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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

how to know if your perm rooted already?

i have followed ikhzter instruction with no problem but it says im s-off but my hboot is 1.17.0008 still, in his guide it says
7. You're done. Your Device will Successfully have S-OFF....if it hangs on method 3 and doesn't S-Off. See post 2 below for solutions.
IF REVOLUTIONARY SAYS FAILED YOUR PHONE IS NOT SUPPORTED. Go back and check hboot using the methods above. some users are told its failed and they still have S off now. If you have S-off your hboot will now be 1.17.1011 and revolutionary will tell you now your device is not supported
is it ok?
but i manage to get through all his instruction with no problem
how do i know if i have perm root already?
sorry for noob question

If you have super user and it works, you have root
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App

I have the same question/problem 1.17.0008 but S-OFF.. I assume the 1011 is a engineering spl allowing fastboot commands? I could be way off, its been a long time since I messed with HTC stuff (G1)
s-off is just the hboot security correct, and not an unlocked bootloader? Man, I got my sensation Wednesday and its been a crash course trying to relearn the htc way, lol.

oh cool, i got superuser
ty
but is it ok that my hboot remains 1.17.0008?

Super User always means success Its the sexiest icon you could ever see lol

[Q] Need help with root my device

Hey i need help with root my HTC Sensation i try wit this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1192300
but im stuck at step 1 and every time i try i get this message "FAILED TO GET ROOT"
try on 2 different PC i unlocked it with HTCDEV but im unable to get root pls help
HTC Sensation (pyramid -1.18.0000, Android 2.3.4 ROM Version 1.50.111.2
Branded in T-Mobile Germany

it isn't rooted even though you've unlocked it with HTCDEV? Someone else could probably help you better on this matter as I've never used that yet... But I thought HTCDEV Basically rooted your phone?

do you have debuggin enabled on phone? make sure you have it on usb charge,
also:
If you are getting root error messages
Some Users acheived root by repeating Step 3 a few times Try this
1. Repeat step 3 at least 3 times or until it installs completely .
2. Download busy box from the market , open it and install the app.
3. Reboot and that should do it , root should be working and WiFi with s off
4. You may get messages telling you it failed to root or installation aborted but reboot and check it with root checker. Many users are told its failed but are actually rooted now
If u want to verify if u have root download the app called root checker it checks for root and for busy box to b installed correctly... if that fails
Try Installing/REINSTALLING SuperUSER and Busybox (or busybox installer) from the market. if it still doesn't work then
Flash a custom Rom as they come Pre-Rooted
Many Tmous users are acheiving root while a few are not. please try all of the above mentioned methods.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

ye i have debuggin enabled and i try on 2 difrent PC and stil nothing i get only this meseg FAILED TO GET ROOT = its irritating i try with HTC SuperTool but this dont work

cappone said:
ye i have debuggin enabled and i try on 2 difrent PC and stil nothing i get only this meseg FAILED TO GET ROOT = its irritating i try with HTC SuperTool but this dont work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so your trying to achieve s-off and and everythine with it?, or do you already have s-off?

ilostchild said:
so your trying to achieve s-off and and everythine with it?, or do you already have s-off?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes thats right i want to achieve s-off with everything

is your phone still functioning properly? if it is (gonna sound stupid) try to reboot phone, also make sure you have fastboot drivers installed on computer, also go here for help http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=revolutionary its the revo IRC
also this could casue problems
he program hangs when “waiting for the system to settle.” -OR- the program says “Communications with phone unexpectedly interrupted.”
Uninstall any programs that may connect to the phone over USB and automatically sync. Specifically, we have had interference from HTC Sync and Doubletwist in the past; other programs may also cause trouble. Try reinstalling the drivers, if all else fails (or use Linux, which has a 99% less sucky USB stack).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

i now that i have unistal HTC Sync and all my driver no main PC but still i get this mesage FAILED TO GET ROOT
i try on fresh WIN8 DevPreview and the same thing

cappone said:
i now that i have unistal HTC Sync and all my driver no main PC but still i get this mesage FAILED TO GET ROOT
i try on fresh WIN8 DevPreview and the same thing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can try to manually root and see if that gets you anywhere
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1296916
but i suggest you go to the IRC the guys there will help you as its there program and they can help ion detail

ilostchild said:
you can try to manually root and see if that gets you anywhere
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1296916
but i suggest you go to the IRC the guys there will help you as its there program and they can help ion detail
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am having the same problem too. Somme xda guys told in some different posts to use taco root and while bootlooping, use the revolution app. Now what I don't want to experiment or do is brick my first android smartphone. So, help me out guys, s-on, non root, Sen XE.
I will be obliged if someone sees into this and tries the taco root and revolution. Revolution does not work for me because I updated to HTC's latest software optimisation update.
PLEASE HELP!

behinduall said:
I am having the same problem too. Somme xda guys told in some different posts to use taco root and while bootlooping, use the revolution app. Now what I don't want to experiment or do is brick my first android smartphone. So, help me out guys, s-on, non root, Sen XE.
I will be obliged if someone sees into this and tries the taco root and revolution. Revolution does not work for me because I updated to HTC's latest software optimisation update.
PLEASE HELP!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What exactly does the Bootloader screen say ? The white one, pull the battery and then Power & Vol -

gol_n_dal said:
What exactly does the Bootloader screen say ? The white one, pull the battery and then Power & Vol -
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey don't think I am a noob. I may not know programming only because I don't know the language and also because I am an early electronics student. Now, I am s-on with 1.18.0000 I tried Revolutionary but it fails to get the root as I have accidentally updated to the latest HTC software optimisation update. Now, the only way to get out of this **** is to either wait for ICS and then its root which I don't know how much long that is, or downgrade it, which is also like rooting it except I can root my phone after downgrading but I don't know how safe it is. And the third and the best is finding out whether we can root the phone by achieving temp root with taco root and then while its bootlooping, using revolutionary to achieve s-off and then rest of the business. So. I am asking u "Devs" to try and report back to me whether this taco root worked. Thanks
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio Z715e using xda premium

behinduall said:
Hey don't think I am a noob. I may not know programming only because I don't know the language and also because I am an early electronics student. Now, I am s-on with 1.18.0000 I tried Revolutionary but it fails to get the root as I have accidentally updated to the latest HTC software optimisation update. Now, the only way to get out of this **** is to either wait for ICS and then its root which I don't know how much long that is, or downgrade it, which is also like rooting it except I can root my phone after downgrading but I don't know how safe it is. And the third and the best is finding out whether we can root the phone by achieving temp root with taco root and then while its bootlooping, using revolutionary to achieve s-off and then rest of the business. So. I am asking u "Devs" to try and report back to me whether this taco root worked. Thanks
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio Z715e using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK sorry for assuming that you're less proficient than you are. Just that there are soooooo many folks that don't understand the basics.
Anyway, sounds like you're in a situation that I can't help with. I'm sure others in XDA can.
Good Luck.
EDIT: quick sanity check, Revolution fails to S-OFF ?

gol_n_dal said:
OK sorry for assuming that you're less proficient than you are. Just that there are soooooo many folks that don't understand the basics.
Anyway, sounds like you're in a situation that I can't help with. I'm sure others in XDA can.
Good Luck.
EDIT: quick sanity check, Revolution fails to S-OFF ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes dude, happy now? Btw whose sanity check. U didn't see that I told Revolutionary fails? Even a donkey riding a unicycle knows that. Lol
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio Z715e using xda premium

behinduall said:
Yes dude, happy now? Btw whose sanity check. U didn't see that I told Revolutionary fails? Even a donkey riding a unicycle knows that. Lol
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio Z715e using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My bad, I added that as an edit after posting, oops. Note to self: make sure it's semi-sensible before posting next time.

Is it ok to root like this?
http://therootofallevo.com/2012/02/htc-evo-4g-root-hboot-2-18-0001-gain-s-off/
Sent from my Sensation XE with Beats Audio using xda premium from the planet Titan. Brrr... its freezing here

[Q] can someone help me?

i just bought a sensation, and now i'm a previous HD2 owner. so i'm not a noob, i hope.
so...unlocking bootloader and rooting and s-Off...which one to follow? the official on hTCDev website or the revolutionary way?! any difference between those?
please someone clarify some things, as i just became a sensation user, i have no idea about anything of these since HD2 is way different as i noticed and since there are a lot of info on the net, i don't wanna get into things i shouldn't.
i got a second hand sensation but it's still on factory default with android 2.3.4 and sense 3.0
really any help is greatly appreciated

If your HBOOT is supported by Revolutionary ALWAYS use that one...
I dont like HTCdev - It should only be used if your HBOOT is unsupported
Just have a good read through all the noob guides. Be sure of what you're doing before attempting anything...
I cant stress how important it is to follow the guides 100%

azzledazzle said:
If your HBOOT is supported by Revolutionary ALWAYS use that one...
I dont like HTCdev - It should only be used if your HBOOT is unsupported
Just have a good read through all the noob guides. Be sure of what you're doing before attempting anything...
I cant stress how important it is to follow the guides 100%
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
okay great, that was so helpful! you're really a good Q&A contributor, i don't know were i would have learned that anywhere else!
i'm off to check if my Hboot is supported.
thanks button clicked, cheers!

cant help but detect some sarcasm there

azzledazzle said:
cant help but detect some sarcasm there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
eh? why would you say that?!

Maybe i misinterpreted it !
who knows ?

azzledazzle said:
cant help but detect some sarcasm there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no really i searched like two hours and on youtube but i couldn't know what's the difference between the official tool and the one called revolutionary...why you felt sarcasm in my words is beyond me...sorry anyway...

haha maybe its just me..
Anyway, Revolutionary IS THEE best tool for S-OFF... providing your HBOOT is supported of course. Did you check to see if its supported ?

if you got hboot 1.18.0000 please use revolutionary method to unlock your boot loader. If you unlock your bootloader with htcdev method you will unlock somd parts of the hboot. not every thing. then you cant flash a custom kernel because it already locked boot.img and cant write a new file over it. thne you will get wifi,bluetooth problems. so unlock your bootloader with revolutionary.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA

azzledazzle said:
haha maybe its just me..
Anyway, Revolutionary IS THEE best tool for S-OFF... providing your HBOOT is supported of course. Did you check to see if its supported ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yep, it's supported i will do it tonight before bed and sleep at ease having it unlocked ^.^

namila007 said:
if you got hboot 1.18.0000 please use revolutionary method to unlock your boot loader. If you unlock your bootloader with htcdev method you will unlock somd parts of the hboot. not every thing. then you cant flash a custom kernel because it already locked boot.img and cant write a new file over it. thne you will get wifi,bluetooth problems. so unlock your bootloader with revolutionary.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i appreciate your concern i'll certainly use revolutionary.

arabology said:
i appreciate your concern i'll certainly use revolutionary.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
great
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA

arabology said:
yep, it's supported i will do it tonight before bed and sleep at ease having it unlocked ^.^
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Happing rooting...
Just curious, how will rooting (& thereby voiding the warranty) bring you some peace... For most people, it would bring anxiety (& bad dreams)...
Wait a minute, you said unlocking, i hope you didn't mean sim-unlock instead of rooting?
Cheers, Jp

japinder said:
Happing rooting...
Just curious, how will rooting (& thereby voiding the warranty) bring you some peace... For most people, it would bring anxiety (& bad dreams)...
Wait a minute, you said unlocking, i hope you didn't mean sim-unlock instead of rooting?
Cheers, Jp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hehe yeah. no my phone is not sim locked

it didn't work!!
i tried it and my HBOOT is 1.18.0000 revolutionary supports it! i filled up everything correctly on the site and got a beta key. on revolutionary.exe, it ditects my phone just fine, after that i copy/paste the beta key. it starts but after a minute is gives "failed to get root "
help?

Did you get S-OFF via revolutionary ??
what does your HBOOT say now ??

azzledazzle said:
Did you get S-OFF via revolutionary ??
what does your HBOOT say now ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for your reply. nothing changed in my after i tried revolutionary. HBOOT is still 1.18.0000

and it still says S-ON ??
If so try it again Copy the beta key into notepad and enter it into revolutionary manually.
then tell me what happens, also, link me to the guide you are / was following, and what step you got to before this problem occurred

azzledazzle said:
and it still says S-ON ??
If so try it again Copy the beta key into notepad and enter it into revolutionary manually.
then tell me what happens, also, link me to the guide you are / was following, and what step you got to before this problem occurred
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah it still rights LOCKED up with pinkish red highlight and under it S-ON RL
i already tried like 5-6 times...nothing worked...i installed drivers, unticked fast boot on phone, and ticks usb debugging...
i followed this method: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1192300

oh i got the error on step 1 in revolutionary...

[Q] USB Brick - Loop

Essentially, I have been stuck in some sort of loop. Here's my problem:
For about six months I had been using my phone with stock HTC rom, S-ON, locked as usual. After about three months, I started using Airdroid for all my media transfers etc. So after about six months I decided to start flashing custom ROMs from here. But before I started doing it, I noticed that my phone was not detecting USB and simply charging when connected to my laptop (essentially i have no idea when my usb stopped working, but it was pre-rom flashing period). However, fastboot USB worked perfectly and so I realised that it was a classical USB Brick situation. Tried the USB fix solutions for S-ON devices but they simply wouldn't work (worked randomly but reappeared).
USB and ADB work perfectly on the Andromadus rom, but they don't work on stock roms. So I am able to downgrade to a hboot 0.98 and to a previous stock rom, but I am unable to use revolutionary since ADB does not work on that rom. Essentially, I am unable to S-OFF. And with that I am unable to try the simple USB Brick solution for S-OFF devices.
USB Brick -> Can't use ADB -> Can't S-OFF -> Can't try USB Brick solution.
I hope I am not missing something (sorry for the long post).

If I understand your situation, you were able to downgrade your hboot. You were also able to unlock it, flash andromadus and verify that you could use adb.
I haven't followed the S-OFF path yet, but, now that your hboot is v0.98.*, why don't you unlock it (if not done yet), find and flash a GB custom ROM with which adb would work, and then S-OFF from this ROM ?
Correct me if I am wrong, but revolutionary needs a v0.98.* hboot but I haven't read that one needs to be on stock ROM in order to S-OFF by revolutionary.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda app-developers app

yaonos said:
If I understand your situation, you were able to downgrade your hboot. You were also able to unlock it, flash andromadus and verify that you could use adb.
I haven't followed the S-OFF path yet, but, now that your hboot is v0.98.*, why don't you unlock it (if not done yet), find and flash a GB custom ROM with which adb would work, and then S-OFF from this ROM ?
Correct me if I am wrong, but revolutionary needs a v0.98.* hboot but I haven't read that one needs to be on stock ROM in order to S-OFF by revolutionary.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply! I tried unlocking 0.98.* but it would'nt unlock like it does in hboot 2.x. I don't think the htc unlock thing works in hboot 0.98. Or else I would surely have installed another rooted rom.

That's a shame you can't unlock the hboot. It was worth trying anyway. The. Only other alternative I can think of is using an XTC Clip. Read http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1076937 for more info.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda app-developers app

I dont think I can get an XTC clip.

dejavu89 said:
I dont think I can get an XTC clip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not?
http://www.fonefunshop.co.uk/Unlocking/xtc_clip.htm

One more question that I should have asked before : are you sure that your issue is not related to your laptop ? Did you try to connect your DS to another PC ?
Edit: we know that it is not an hardware issue because your DS and laptop can communicate in fastboot, and in adb with a custom ROM. There may be a software that gets in the way when your DS is on a stock ROM. I'm not sure that stock and custom ROMs advertise themselves with the same vendor id and device id. If not, it could be the reason why it works with a custom ROM and not with a stock one.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda app-developers app