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How to root S-Off HTC Desire S

For anyone that has had difficulty rooting the HTC Desire S.
Having had my HTC Desire S made S-Off by Androf ( Root internet cafe on Edgware Rd London ) I noticed that there are a few methods to root the DS.
Most of which are quite complicated but alas I managed to find a simple method.
The Gingerbreak 1.20 APK manages to root any S-Off DS quickly and easily, simply download the app directly to the phone or download and transfer to the phone. Once that has been done simply install the APK file onto the phone, once that is done simply run the app and follow the instructions and then your phone should say something along the lines of there was a mistake and try a manual reboot to check if Superuser is installed.
For a few people such as myself you may notice that once you run the Gingerbreak APK the phone reboots itself and doesn't work, if this happens to you then simply format your SD card and remount it and try again and "voila" you should have superuser installed and root access on the DS.
Hope this helps anyone that may have encountered the same problems as me.
"Knowledge is Power"
Ron
Contact Telephone number for Root internet Cafe Edgware Road - 0207 262 6118

Excuse my extreme ignorance, but... how can I check this has worked on my phone?
Thanks

No probs.....
What would you like to check has worked?

I mean how do I know th phone is rooted? Superuser installed?
Think I need to read around this a bit more, feeling very thick, haha.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA Premium App

chris5s said:
I mean how do I know th phone is rooted? Superuser installed?
Think I need to read around this a bit more, feeling very thick, haha.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't fear! I believe that I'm the same boat as you, also coming from a TOPAZ and WM65, so any daft question feel happy to ask me (not that I'll be able to answer them!) I've had a sharp learning curve over the last 6weeks and my first Android device!

There are a few ways of knowing if you have route access.
First thing to check is if you have superuser access, if you can't find that out then simply go to the market and download an app called route check and that will tell you if you are rooted.
Hope this helps.
Ron

Ok, thanks guys. Couldn't find route checker but got something similar that told me I don't have SU rights - this apk installed fine for me tho.
Anyway, think I'll have a scout around and see what I'm actually trying to do and if I need to!
Thanks again

Where to download Gingerbreak 1.20 APK
I need this Gingerbreak 1.20 APK to root my HTC Desire S with Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Where to download this Gingerbreak 1.20 APK? Please attach the file or the url....

hasan1969 said:
I need this Gingerbreak 1.20 APK to root my HTC Desire S with Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Where to download this Gingerbreak 1.20 APK? Please attach the file or the url....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You haven't looked very hard...
Its the first sticky thread in the Dev section of this forum.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1045118
You must be S-OFF to use it though.

I was about to post a thread asking the same question. I have a SOFF phone and wanted to know how to root it without getting into trouble.
Edit: successfully rooted my phone.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App

Dont people use the search anymore???

how to root s-on device? or how to s-off my DS??

My understanding is that rooting an S-on phone, if possible, only achieves a temp root that is lost on reboot. S-Off at present is only possible with xtc clip (hardware device) ( =lots of money). Software method is likely coming soon (ish) via alpharev team.
Suggest googling xtc and/or alpharev.
Peace
Sent from my phone

Waiting
When i run my GingerBreak and choose Root device, it says it's running the exploit and this may take a few minutes. I have waited 6 minutes and nothing happened. Followed your instructions but it seems that it's rooting forever.

kikukiks said:
When i run my GingerBreak and choose Root device, it says it's running the exploit and this may take a few minutes. I have waited 6 minutes and nothing happened. Followed your instructions but it seems that it's rooting forever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please provide some additional information about your device.
Your ROM version, HBOOT version, have you made the phone S-OFF? etc
then we'll probably be able to help

@kikukiks - did you try rebooting anyway? It may have worked, just needs a reboot....
Sent from my HTC Desire S

kikukiks said:
When i run my GingerBreak and choose Root device, it says it's running the exploit and this may take a few minutes. I have waited 6 minutes and nothing happened. Followed your instructions but it seems that it's rooting forever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try formatting your memory card and then retry gingerbreak and it should work... Or at least it did for me.

Hello gyies i am triyng for 3 days to s-off my phone with revolutionary tool and it doesnt work i tried windows and linux.... Please help....
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA Premium App

iliasker said:
Hello gyies i am triyng for 3 days to s-off my phone with revolutionary tool and it doesnt work i tried windows and linux.... Please help....
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For us even to try to assist you must give us more....
For a start what HBOOT & ROM version has your phone?
What errors are you getting, at what point it is failing? screen dumps would be useful ...

My hboot is is 0.98.0002 by linux it doesent work at all.. on windows i make all the instruktions exsaktly and it doesent worj there eather.... kernelversion 2.6.35.10-g2ee27f5 when i am in methode 2 it says failed to get root... i folowed the instructions carefully...
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA Premium App

I need to understand the different between S-off and root

Because I am kind of lost information. Some of us here says Evo 3D and Sensation is a like. At this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1135100 I just read that root not mean s-off. So my question is what is the point of root when I can't pass the recovery to install a rom. I think s-on is a protection for the recovery, I am right or wrong?

Root is when you have access to the filesystem in Android. This may or may not stick after a reboot. It will definitely not stick with S-On. With root and S-On you also cannot flash custom roms, as the bootloader is locked.
S-Off means that the security on the bootloader is off. With S-Off you can load any rom you want. It is the ultimate hack that will open up a HTC phone

Root is a set of privileges, while s-off is a security setting that protects areas like the radio, bootloader and recovery from being modified. So with root you can run apps that require root permission like wireless tether and Titanium Backup, but with s-off you can start replacing the recovery, radio, bootloader, entire ROM, etc.
First we get root, then we get s-off, then we flash ROMs, and then we celebrate.

karnovaran said:
First we get root, then we get s-off, then we flash ROMs, and then we celebrate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and then we f**k

c19932 said:
and then we f**k
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or not...
Lol, pretty sure a majority of us are guys here. I don't swing that way.

You actually can achieve permanent ROOT access and have S-ON simultaneously. After the OTA Froyo update for The MyTouch Slide this was the case. You could still flash a custom recovery, custom ROMS and whatever radio you chose to, however one could NOT change your MTD positions.
Edit: This is the only case I know of, where this has ever happened though.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App

BonesRed said:
You actually can achieve permanent ROOT access and have S-ON simultaneously. After the OTA Froyo update for The MyTouch Slide this was the case. You could still flash a custom recovery, custom ROMS and whatever radio you chose to, however one could NOT change your MTD positions.
Edit: This is the only case I know of, where this has ever happened though.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Mytouch Slide was one of the last HTC phones that didn't come with newer super reinforced eMMC security. On devices like the Slide, Desire and others, the S-ON flag meant you couldn't alter the boot loader, but you could still write to /system with root. Starting at the G2, Desire HD and Mytouch 4G, this became more highly secured.
Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk

temp root problems

i am at the end of my tether i have tried everything to get gingerbreak to give me temp root and nothing works, using the downgrading post with adb it just stays on the flashing cursor after the line found start, end etc, the apk on my phone just stays on the will reboot on success screen i have tried about 20 times with each method, i have left them running for over an hour just incase, i have factory reset my phone i have used 4 different goldcards, i am on a uk vodafone with 002 hboot can anyone help me before i go crazy, neither of the methods ever gets any further so i cant use alpharevx arrrghhhhhhhh

davidreece said:
i am at the end of my tether i have tried everything to get gingerbreak to give me temp root and nothing works, using the downgrading post with adb it just stays on the flashing cursor after the line found start, end etc, the apk on my phone just stays on the will reboot on success screen i have tried about 20 times with each method, i have left them running for over an hour just incase, i have factory reset my phone i have used 4 different goldcards, i am on a uk vodafone with 002 hboot can anyone help me before i go crazy, neither of the methods ever gets any further so i cant use alpharevx arrrghhhhhhhh
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you not look for an XTC clip to perform the soff function, I was under the impression that from version 1.3.6 that supported all hboot versions on the (saga) desire s, although you should confirm this first
Search this forum for "xtc" there is a thread started by me, with links to other owners that may be of help
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA Premium App

ben_pyett said:
Can you not look for an XTC clip to perform the soff function, I was under the impression that from version 1.3.6 that supported all hboot versions on the (saga) desire s, although you should confirm this first
Search this forum for "xtc" there is a thread started by me, with links to other owners that may be of help
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i could probably buy a payg one but that doesnt solve the "why the f*ck is it not working" question
(by the way i also have fastboot switched off )

Alpharevx to s-off, ginger break to root. Simples

xdragonforce said:
Alpharevx to s-off, ginger break to root. Simples
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gingerbreak to temp root and downgrade hboot 0002 to 0000, then alpharevx to s-off gingerbreak to root, gingerbreak wont temp root, not simples

it is not possible to downgrade from 0002 to 0000...

ciselko said:
it is not possible to downgrade from 0002 to 0000...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
better go tell this lot because they must all be delusional
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1078497

I am not alone, who can not downgrade, it is possible to downgrade ROMs with HBOOT 0000, but ROMs with HBOOT 0.98.0002 are not possible...
if I am misstaken, sorry...

permroot for S-off MyTouch 4G Slide

How i got perm root on my MT4GS (does not give S-off just permroot of an S-off device)
YOU NEED TO HAVE A S-OFF device!
1)Start off with a fresh install of the TMO 1.28 ROM
2)Used temp root from MT4GSROOT.zip Thanks TeamWin for the temproot method Here is thread for orgnial files)
open MT4GSROOT\ADB (on pc)
Make sure that you have USB debugging turned on (on phone) and drivers installed to PC
Run Fre3voMT4gS.bat (from MT4GSROOT\ADB)
3)check in ternimal ((on phone) need to install from market)) and see if you have root (I got permission denied)
4)ran superonclick with Gingerbreak exploit (thanks CLShortFuse for making this tool) (on pc) - S1C thread
open MT4GSROOT and click on Superoneclick.exe
change exploit to Gingerbreak
hit root
Installed busybox when asked by S1C
Run Su test and looked on phone and Superuser asked for permission
5)Tried opening a app that uses root (root explorer) and SU FC on me
6)go to market and make sure you had latest version Installed (i had an update I needed)
7)Update binary when opening SU for the first time
Allow the SU app SU priviliages (funny I know)
8)Open a root app (root explorer again) and SU asked for permission
Test for permroot
turned off fastboot
deleted a system/app file (in this case htcfmwidget and htcfmwidge.obex) -using the r/w option in root explorer
Rebooted phone and reopened root explorer and looked for removed files and they were not there
None of the tools that I included were made by me they were made by the people I thanked. I just wrote the script for the tools to work. go to their threads and thank them.
Disclaimer I am not responsible for breaking your phone, melting it, or anything that may happen when doing this. Remember this is your choice
I have been able to use Root explorer, Titanium backup, terminal emulator and was able to remove APKs from the system folder that I do not want.

This is awesome!
So how did you get s-off? Did it ship that way?

raycaster3 said:
So how did you get s-off? Did it ship that way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine was shipped s-off ordered online
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA App

crackeyes said:
Mine was shipped s-off ordered online
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's awesome that we've acheived perm root already.
If you don't mind me asking, did you do the preorder process from t-mobile?
I am extremely interested in this, but I hate preorders

crackeyes said:
Mine was shipped s-off ordered online
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Killer. Mine is being shipped the 27th. I can't wait to give this a try. Now all we need is miui for this phone and we're all set! Haha
Sent from my demonSPEED Glacier

raycaster3 said:
Killer. Mine is being shipped the 27th. I can't wait to gibe this a try. Now all we need is miui for this phone and we're all set! Haha
Sent from my demonSPEED Glacier
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh no, I just realized he is probably talking about the DoubleShot.
For some reason I have a feeling that the delay for T-Mobile USA customers is due to HTC installing a S-On bootloader

poormanq45 said:
That's awesome that we've acheived perm root already.
If you don't mind me asking, did you do the preorder process from t-mobile?
I am extremely interested in this, but I hate preorders
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't preorder I acquired at a meet and greet where they gave me place to get it
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA App

Please don't ask for ETA's people would start coming in MT4GS section soon It come's with stock 2.3.4 so all we need is a custom ROM & were fine . I will be creating a TouchWiz 4.0 ROM w/Sense w/ MIUI icon's .
raycaster3 said:
Killer. Mine is being shipped the 27th. I can't wait to give this a try. Now all we need is miui for this phone and we're all set! Haha
Sent from my demonSPEED Glacier
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

No S-OFF on retail devices folks.
P

I cant get to get my computer to find it, is asking for the driver.... I try but I need the drivers it only appears as android phone on the management.
Update the driver comes on the original SD card, i swapped it which I didn't realized till now
Update 2: After finding the driver I still cant get root access.... anyone done it already?

waiting89 said:
I cant get to get my computer to find it, is asking for the driver.... I try but I need the drivers it only appears as android phone on the management.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install htc sync but make sure it is not running
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA App

I got it working and follow the step of rooting, but I still dont get any root access...

is it possible to extract the s-off boot-loader from a device with s-off already? My understanding of these procedures is rudimentary at best, but if my understanding is correct, the boot-loader is a specific partition on the device, if someone with an s-off device could copy that image to their computer or just a folder on their sd-card, it should be possible then to share that with others who could then write that image to their boot-loader partion using fastboot. or can you not use fastboot until s-off is achieved? i hate that i always forget these things once i have my device running the way i want it to.

shizenyasuya said:
is it possible to extract the s-off boot-loader from a device with s-off already? My understanding of these procedures is rudimentary at best, but if my understanding is correct, the boot-loader is a specific partition on the device, if someone with an s-off device could copy that image to their computer or just a folder on their sd-card, it should be possible then to share that with others who could then write that image to their boot-loader partion using fastboot. or can you not use fastboot until s-off is achieved? i hate that i always forget these things once i have my device running the way i want it to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Stupid Noob wants to know...
What the heck is "S-off"??

shizenyasuya said:
is it possible to extract the s-off boot-loader from a device with s-off already? My understanding of these procedures is rudimentary at best, but if my understanding is correct, the boot-loader is a specific partition on the device, if someone with an s-off device could copy that image to their computer or just a folder on their sd-card, it should be possible then to share that with others who could then write that image to their boot-loader partion using fastboot. or can you not use fastboot until s-off is achieved? i hate that i always forget these things once i have my device running the way i want it to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In order to flash the s-off bootloader you would have to have a eng bootloader. to put that on you would need s-off dont you love loop 22
As for s-off it means you can flash what ever you want to your device and it will not check to see if HTC signed it and approved it for you

thanks for that works great!!!!!!!!! also mine is from a retail store same day it came out

is it possible to build a PG59IMG file and pack the S-Off hboot into there?? possibly use HexEdit to make sure the version numbers match so that the phone will think it's just a factory reset/update file??

DJAeroX26 said:
is it possible to build a PG59IMG file and pack the S-Off hboot into there?? possibly use HexEdit to make sure the version numbers match so that the phone will think it's just a factory reset/update file??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think just by making that one hexedit you instantly invalidate the sign on the the zip. Mainly because hashing the new file would give you a different result.
This mechanism actually prevents OTA updates from flashing if the file was changed due to (for example) corruption.
Not entirely sure but I think it's how it works.
That being said I was wondering what would happen if someone with an S-OFF hboot were to dump it and someone with S-ON would simply DD the right partition after achieving temp root.
On any normal computer that process would work. Wondering what secret HTC things happen under the hood though.

Akujin said:
I think just by making that one hexedit you instantly invalidate the sign on the the zip. Mainly because hashing the new file would give you a different result.
This mechanism actually prevents OTA updates from flashing if the file was changed due to (for example) corruption.
Not entirely sure but I think it's how it works.
That being said I was wondering what would happen if someone with an S-OFF hboot were to dump it and someone with S-ON would simply DD the right partition after achieving temp root.
On any normal computer that process would work. Wondering what secret HTC things happen under the hood though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's only one way to find out.
Sent from a Western Union telegram.

Akujin said:
I think just by making that one hexedit you instantly invalidate the sign on the the zip. Mainly because hashing the new file would give you a different result.
This mechanism actually prevents OTA updates from flashing if the file was changed due to (for example) corruption.
Not entirely sure but I think it's how it works.
That being said I was wondering what would happen if someone with an S-OFF hboot were to dump it and someone with S-ON would simply DD the right partition after achieving temp root.
On any normal computer that process would work. Wondering what secret HTC things happen under the hood though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh ok. Thanks for clarifying that. I thought it would work because last time I did a warranty exchange, I had to return to stock but I had an ENG hboot and I was scared of bricking by using a factory image, so I took the factory image zip, unpacked it, "injected" the original hboot (which I hex edited to match the version number so that it'll take it as an update) and rezipped it and named it PC10IMG.zip. and yea I have a G2 but I want this phone :]
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

How easy is it to regain root with s-off

Just wondering
Sent from my One X using xda premium

depends on what you mean. Are you talking about if you lose root and have s-off or are you talking about a fresh phone? If you lose root s-off will help because you don't have to go through unlocking the BL so it will speed up the process.
If you are talking about if you just got a locked phone will it help. Right now the process to gain s-off starts after you have unlocked your BL and are rooted, so as it stands right now the process takes about the same. I too have wondered if they can make a faster root now that they have achieved s-off but not sure if that is possible because I don't understand all the coding behind the scenes

slojko said:
Just wondering
Sent from my One X using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's very easy as long as you follow the instructions

s-off removes all security on your phone. Once you do that, you can never permanently lose root.