I just got the MT4GS after being a long time MT4G user and I'm wondering if it is worth it to root as there is currently no CM or stable Virtuous Rom which is what I used on the MT4G. Any helpful opinions are much appreciated.
micahman said:
I just got the MT4GS after being a long time MT4G user and I'm wondering if it is worth it to root as there is currently no CM or stable Virtuous Rom which is what I used on the MT4G. Any helpful opinions are much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If Virtuous is what you like then I'd say yes, go for it and root. The Virtuous ROM might be in beta here in the MT4GS forums but it was smokin' fast and stable enough when I used it. I'm sure an official release is just around the corner anyway. good luck and welcome to the MT4GS family!!
siani_8 said:
If Virtuous is what you like then I'd say yes, go for it and root. The Virtuous ROM might be in beta here in the MT4GS forums but it was smokin' fast and stable enough when I used it. I'm sure an official release is just around the corner anyway. good luck and welcome to the MT4GS family!!
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the feedback and welcome, good enough reason for me. One thing I do like a lot on stock is the camera app, is that included in the beta or is there a flashable mod?
micahman said:
Thanks for the feedback and welcome, good enough reason for me. One thing I do like a lot on stock is the camera app, is that included in the beta or is there a flashable mod?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes sir, the Doubleshot camera app is included.
micahman said:
I just got the MT4GS after being a long time MT4G user and I'm wondering if it is worth it to root as there is currently no CM or stable Virtuous Rom which is what I used on the MT4G. Any helpful opinions are much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root it. Then you can:
Enhance your gps ability because of the generic gps file that's coded very poorly (in fact wrongly ... T-Mo doesn't maintain a good SUPL server, and if you're not on the T-Mo network your AGPS isn't working in stock configuration...well, maybe a little, but not anything worth mentioning. )
Flash a better security update to fix the big-brotheresque HTC spy mode (htcloggers.apk). HTC released an update to patch their security hole, but they are still monitoring everything you do with the device. Flash Undeadk9's security patch to just cut them off at the knees instead, or uninstall htcloggers.apk ( and other file I can't remember at the moment )
Change your hardware key files and re-map some buttons to be more useful.
Flash custom ROMs, as you're aware...
Play with the upcoming kernel files from myself and others...( give us time to make it stable )
...and so much more!
Generally do the things with the device that you've paid for that you should be able to do. Why spend all this money on something, and only use like 60% or less of what it can do?
If you're here and posting, then you should probably just go ahead and root it. It won't be long after you've been poking around in here reading through all the things we have been/are doing with the device before you'll go for it.
Check the sticky at the top of the general section to get a good handle on where to go first and what to read through. Take the time to read through the threads ( I know they are long ) - you'll see what all the problems were that people encountered, and how they were solved. Even if you don't run into the problems, at least you'll learn a whole lot and understand your device much, much more intimately.
...and if you get stuck, we're here to help. Many of us have been through this whole process countless times before, and are willing to lend a hand - just don't post random questions in the dev section and everything will be good.
Welcome to our little corner of the XDA universe - you'll love this device!
Blue6IX said:
Root it. Then you can:
Enhance your gps ability because of the generic gps file that's coded very poorly (in fact wrongly ... T-Mo doesn't maintain a good SUPL server, and if you're not on the T-Mo network your AGPS isn't working in stock configuration...well, maybe a little, but not anything worth mentioning. )
Flash a better security update to fix the big-brotheresque HTC spy mode (htcloggers.apk). HTC released an update to patch their security hole, but they are still monitoring everything you do with the device. Flash Undeadk9's security patch to just cut them off at the knees instead, or uninstall htcloggers.apk ( and other file I can't remember at the moment )
Change your hardware key files and re-map some buttons to be more useful.
Flash custom ROMs, as you're aware...
Play with the upcoming kernel files from myself and others...( give us time to make it stable )
...and so much more!
Generally do the things with the device that you've paid for that you should be able to do. Why spend all this money on something, and only use like 60% or less of what it can do?
If you're here and posting, then you should probably just go ahead and root it. It won't be long after you've been poking around in here reading through all the things we have been/are doing with the device before you'll go for it.
Check the sticky at the top of the general section to get a good handle on where to go first and what to read through. Take the time to read through the threads ( I know they are long ) - you'll see what all the problems were that people encountered, and how they were solved. Even if you don't run into the problems, at least you'll learn a whole lot and understand your device much, much more intimately.
...and if you get stuck, we're here to help. Many of us have been through this whole process countless times before, and are willing to lend a hand - just don't post random questions in the dev section and everything will be good.
Welcome to our little corner of the XDA universe - you'll love this device!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, thank you for all the info, I am very grateful. I've noticed there are a few threads detailing how to root but can you tell me which one would be the best and most reliable? Thanks again for all the info, especially about that HTC spy stuff, I had no idea.
micahman said:
Wow, thank you for all the info, I am very grateful. I've noticed there are a few threads detailing how to root but can you tell me which one would be the best and most reliable? Thanks again for all the info, especially about that HTC spy stuff, I had no idea.
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Click to collapse
I used theunlockr.com to root it, worked like a charm and has a video walk throu.. which I'm a big fan of. Easier to follow. but the only difference is to flash modoco cwm not revolutionary.. so you can flash undeadK9's roms.. id suggest senseless.
Sent from my Senseless Doubleshot using xda premium
shady503403 said:
I used theunlockr.com to root it, worked like a charm and has a video walk throu.. which I'm a big fan of. Easier to follow. but the only difference is to flash modoco cwm not revolutionary.. so you can flash undeadK9's roms.. id suggest senseless.
Sent from my Senseless Doubleshot using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Thanks man! Got it rooted and running senseless! So far so good!
Not to contradict Shady's advice, especially since it seems like it worked for you, but i've previously and still do recommend against going to a third party web resource outside of XDA to root the device.
The reason being is that a lot of us did everything from the information available here, and we are familiar with the processes and common problems people run into following the guides posted here in the forums.
If you post questions about problems or an issue you run into, you run the risk of slow or no support because of the unfamiliarity the majority of us here have with outside methods and resources.
I know off the top of my head I could post a helpful response to someone having a problem with a method described here. For an outside resource...i'd probably have to go look it up, maybe download somehing, and probably try the method before being able to help.
Then i'd have to dig into the code of whatever offering was in question, to ensure it wasn't doing anything I didn't want it to do before installing anything.
Ultimately, this is a lot more time and trouble then just digging into my memory or looking up a specific thread to verify something, and also probably provide a link to the specific post that addresses the problem.
I'm hitting overtime consistently on my night job, and still picking up hours at my day job, and honestly would rather commit the level of time necessary to troubleshoot an outside resource on something more personally productive, like digging deeper into kernel source or something.
Just a thought to keep in mind as you (and others in the future) wander around here. I promise that everything you need to root your phone and install custom ROMs and such is right here in the MT4GS forums. (excepting the need to go to the revolutionary resource for S-OFF).
Cm7 just dropped like a bomb
sent from my real Gs move in silence like lasagna
mbernusg said:
Cm7 just dropped like a bomb
sent from my real Gs move in silence like lasagna
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With a follow up by Official CWM Recovery. Today was a good day.
Coug76
Blue6IX said:
Not to contradict Shady's advice, especially since it seems like it worked for you, but i've previously and still do recommend against going to a third party web resource outside of XDA to root the device.
The reason being is that a lot of us did everything from the information available here, and we are familiar with the processes and common problems people run into following the guides posted here in the forums.
If you post questions about problems or an issue you run into, you run the risk of slow or no support because of the unfamiliarity the majority of us here have with outside methods and resources.
I know off the top of my head I could post a helpful response to someone having a problem with a method described here. For an outside resource...i'd probably have to go look it up, maybe download somehing, and probably try the method before being able to help.
Then i'd have to dig into the code of whatever offering was in question, to ensure it wasn't doing anything I didn't want it to do before installing anything.
Ultimately, this is a lot more time and trouble then just digging into my memory or looking up a specific thread to verify something, and also probably provide a link to the specific post that addresses the problem.
I'm hitting overtime consistently on my night job, and still picking up hours at my day job, and honestly would rather commit the level of time necessary to troubleshoot an outside resource on something more personally productive, like digging deeper into kernel source or something.
Just a thought to keep in mind as you (and others in the future) wander around here. I promise that everything you need to root your phone and install custom ROMs and such is right here in the MT4GS forums. (excepting the need to go to the revolutionary resource for S-OFF).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very true. They use a lot of information found at xda to build their guides off of thou. And a video tutorial is always nice, for me anyways. but yeah.. don't expect support from theunlockr.com.
I always go their, sometimes their outdated or wrong. But still gave me a general idea and I was able to use multiple guides to give me the correct process..
Sent from my Senseless Doubleshot using xda premium
I'm glad I was able to find this thread, cause I've been wondering whether or not it would actually be worth it to root a MT4GS or not. And ya, I can agree that for the most part, rooting has more benefits than problems. And I always have gotten the same answer when asking that question about other devices, "Just root it; you'd have to be crazy not to; nothing compares to a rooted phone, etc...". So I gave in and rooted my MT3G 1.2 (w/ the headphone jack on top). After a while I noticed some definite problems: a few important features were gone, also it was impossible to update G. Maps (because of being rooted), and finally the worst scenario of all: not being possible to un-root the device. I must have tried 10 times, following the directions to the T and repeatedly getting the same failure error. I was finally able to find someone else with a similar problem who posted their solution. Tried, waited, failed. Fully bricked, I mean not even a flicker or a battery light would come on after that. Fortunately, I was able to lie to customer service and convince them to do a warranty exchange (Aeon-1, T-Mobile-0) so I got a replacement and haven't rooted since.
So I guess my point is, I'm actually scared to root my new MT4GS for the sake of potentially not being able to unroot it if need be. But, so far from what I've read it looks like it is reversable if I ever need to. I was likely considering using theunlockr.com's method due to clearly stated, and easily understood instructions. I wish I could say the same about the posts I've read @ XDA regarding rooting instructions.
-Which rooting methods are guaranteed to be un-rootable? That option is crucial, if I ever need to go back to stock or do a warranty exchange (for all those people who were gonna say "Why the hell would you ever consider unrooting?)
-So some people suggest ClockworkMod Recovery, others don't seem to care. I ask, is there any real difference between the two? And why?
-Also, which are the best/most stable roms you would suggest? Because I've done the trial and error thing before, comparing several different roms, and I never seemed to find anything worthwhile. (Also, I checked CyanogenMod's site and either I'm blind or they don't have a single rom for the MT4GS)
-I think you somewhat answer the question regarding features of the stock camera being available after rooting. But I need to know: After rooting, is the camera going to be the same as the stock one, including ALL available features (SweepShot, ClearShot HDR, Burst Shot, Macro, Night...)? And is that camera program featured within all rooted roms, or does it have to be installed seperately?
-And ditto that question in regards to G-Maps.
-And finally this may seem like a n00b question, but I've still never gotten a clear answer: How/When can a Nandroid Backup be performed? I know that it would be a safety precaution in case I ever f*cked up my device and needed to restore, but I've never been able to find clear, accurate, and relevant instructions on how to nandroid backup or even nandroid restore.
So I apologize for asking so many questions, especially since I imagine they seem redundant and novice. However, I have rooted phones before so I'm not a complete n00b; I'm just trying to be VERY thorough this time around, to avoid any potential for error. Thank you in advance for your time.
-Colton
@eon said:
I'm glad I was able to find this thread, cause I've been wondering whether or not it would actually be worth it to root a MT4GS or not. And ya, I can agree that for the most part, rooting has more benefits than problems. And I always have gotten the same answer when asking that question about other devices, "Just root it; you'd have to be crazy not to; nothing compares to a rooted phone, etc...". So I gave in and rooted my MT3G 1.2 (w/ the headphone jack on top). After a while I noticed some definite problems: a few important features were gone, also it was impossible to update G. Maps (because of being rooted), and finally the worst scenario of all: not being possible to un-root the device. I must have tried 10 times, following the directions to the T and repeatedly getting the same failure error. I was finally able to find someone else with a similar problem who posted their solution. Tried, waited, failed. Fully bricked, I mean not even a flicker or a battery light would come on after that. Fortunately, I was able to lie to customer service and convince them to do a warranty exchange (Aeon-1, T-Mobile-0) so I got a replacement and haven't rooted since.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry to hear that didn't work out so well. I think you'll find that your MT4GS experience will be a lot better.
Check the link to my backup thread in my signature. Read through it, and feel free to ask any questions in that thread you may have. I or another will be happy to help you clear them up.
Link: Backups - After Rooting, before ROMing, take this step
@eon said:
So I guess my point is, I'm actually scared to root my new MT4GS for the sake of potentially not being able to unroot it if need be. But, so far from what I've read it looks like it is reversable if I ever need to. I was likely considering using theunlockr.com's method due to clearly stated, and easily understood instructions. I wish I could say the same about the posts I've read @ XDA regarding rooting instructions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, everything tends to happen first here, so trying to keep it all organized as things change and develop is difficult at times, much too convoluted at others.
Basically, you need to take your bootloader from S-ON to S-OFF. Do this with the Revolutionary exploit. It installs CWM 4.0.0.8 during the process.
Then you need to make a nandroid backup. (see my backup thread)
Then you should upgrade to the official Clockworkmod Recovery, replacing 4.0.0.8 that was installed with the S-OFF exploit. The version is 5.0.2.7
Dev section link for the official CWM:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1329160
Once you do that, you should already have the superuser.apk you need for rooting that you found when you got the Revolutionary S-OFF tools. You can either have done it then, or now.
I'd wait until after getting the official CWM first, simply because that makes your first nandroid backup as fresh as it can be. It's up to you when you do it.
And that's basically it.
You now have a stock, rooted phone that you can start to play with. I'd say play with it for a little while on the stock ROM before switching to another, that way you'll get a feel for what you gain or lose, and if the various trade-offs are worth it.
Before doing any of that stuff, though, read through this thread:
Read this before posting. MT4G Slide Compendium
That will get you a little more familiar with the terminology, and provide helpful links to start exploring what you need to know.
Also read as much of this thread as you can stand:
S-OFF for Retail (S-ON) Devices, NOTE ADDED 8/17/11
This S-OFF for retail is the thread that officially announced the Revolutionary exploit for S-OFF here. The links in the OP will take you to where you need to go to get it.
If you get through that one, then this is a follow up:
PERMANENT-ROOT (NEW!) & Temp-Root (v2) for any MT4GS (Windows)
The temp-root thread is a bit confusing, because before we got S-OFF you could root the phone until you rebooted it. Once the Revolutionary S-OFF method was out, this thread also ran tandem with the official announcement thread. Because it was also dealing with temp root, it led to a lot of confusion.
There is some really good info in that thread, but I recommend reading the official release thread first. It'll make more sense that way, and you may not even have to check the temp-root thread.
(again, this lends to the evolving nature of what we're learning here - hard to keep it organized as it grows.)
Also, this thread: How To Turn S-Off, Install MoDaCo Clockworkmod Recovery, and Install a Rom For Dummie
Was written as a summary on how to get S-OFF and Root, because of how convoluted and looong the two previously mentioned threads got.
Once you hit this point, you're basically set.
My next move would be to install busybox, which you can find in the market, then immediately flash the Security patch to fix a glaring security flaw created by HTC.
At this point i'd make another nandroid backup.
@eon said:
-Which rooting methods are guaranteed to be un-rootable? That option is crucial, if I ever need to go back to stock or do a warranty exchange (for all those people who were gonna say "Why the hell would you ever consider unrooting?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are all un-rootable, but once you go from S-ON to S-OFF that's a one-way trip. Several people have reported exchanging their devices after returning to stock with an S-OFF bootloader without issue.
This is returning to T-Mobile, though, it's questionable if HTC will accept a return directly of a device with an S-OFF bootloader.
@eon said:
-So some people suggest ClockworkMod Recovery, others don't seem to care. I ask, is there any real difference between the two? And why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As mentioned, upgrade to the official Clockworkmod recovery as soon as possible. From here on out it will be the only supported recovery.
@eon said:
-Also, which are the best/most stable roms you would suggest? Because I've done the trial and error thing before, comparing several different roms, and I never seemed to find anything worthwhile. (Also, I checked CyanogenMod's site and either I'm blind or they don't have a single rom for the MT4GS)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm working on releasing the updated version of Bulletproof right now, actually, and you'll like that one. Should be out in a day or so. The original developer is moving on and is handing it off to me.
I've just spent the last....dunno how long working at it, and needed to take 5 and clear my head. Cruised through the XDA MT4GS forums as i'm winding down for a break, and you caught me at a good time to give a response.
CM7 just got officially put on hold, but with your interest in the camera you probably wouldn't have gone for that right away. It's an alpha release, and we are very excited to have official CM support for the device, but since Ice Cream Sandwich ( Android 4.0 ) source code was just released, the CM team is focusing on that and it's likely to be a while before the CM7 for our phone sees an update.
Honestly, i'm more excited that they are focusing so exculsively on Ice Cream Sandwich, because that means a lot more for all the phones and devices beyond just our own version of CM7.
I'll leave other ROM recommendations to others who will surely come through here and tell you more about them.
@eon said:
-I think you somewhat answer the question regarding features of the stock camera being available after rooting. But I need to know: After rooting, is the camera going to be the same as the stock one, including ALL available features (SweepShot, ClearShot HDR, Burst Shot, Macro, Night...)? And is that camera program featured within all rooted roms, or does it have to be installed seperately?
-And ditto that question in regards to G-Maps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much all of the ROMs will support both the Camera app (in its entirety, included in the ROM) and Google maps.
The alpha port of CM7 is the only one (pretty sure) that doesn't support the camera, because the camera is tied into the sense frameworks. CM7 has no Sense components to it, and it was stated very clearly in the thread that it never will. The CM team and their ROM is worth losing the camera app over to a lot of people, and they are the lone exception to the "no camera app" stigma.
Keeping the camera app is one of the things that has been driving development around here, and very few people were willing to use or invest time in making a ROM that would exclude it.
I should take this time to point out that the stock gps configurations are, well, flat out wrong. Misconfigured, and it doesn't work well.
Myself and another developer independently spent a lot of time working on fixing this issue, and when we realized what each other were doing we also realized that we had the piece of the puzzle the other needed to make it work.
We released a collaboration that solved the problem, which you can find here: GPS lock too long or not at all? Try this
If you want to know how my half of the puzzle works, that thread will explain it in almost excrutiating detail. I recommend my patch over the other developers, as he is no longer with us and I will only be continuing support in my thread.
@eon said:
-And finally this may seem like a n00b question, but I've still never gotten a clear answer: How/When can a Nandroid Backup be performed? I know that it would be a safety precaution in case I ever f*cked up my device and needed to restore, but I've never been able to find clear, accurate, and relevant instructions on how to nandroid backup or even nandroid restore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just cruise through my backup thread. Post 1 is an adb method, post 2 is the nandroid method. If you have any questions, post them in that thread and help us try to maintain some kind of order (hah!)
@eon said:
So I apologize for asking so many questions, especially since I imagine they seem redundant and novice. However, I have rooted phones before so I'm not a complete n00b; I'm just trying to be VERY thorough this time around, to avoid any potential for error. Thank you in advance for your time.
-Colton
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, don't ever worry about asking too many or too long of a question, as long as you don't post the question itself as a new thread in the development section of the MT4GS forums.
I'm sorry to hear it took such a bad experience for you to become as cautious as you are, but now that you're long past it you are much better off.
I'd much rather see someone ask questions, read some stuff, ask more questions, and then act on knowledge then just go and do and then say "I broke it, what do I do".
I'm happy to help either way, but if the information is there already then reading it before you start is much better then retroactively. Save the "how do I fix it" for uncharted territory learning things that aren't already common knowledge.
Again, part of the problem is that information is so convoluted because we keep adding to it as we learn new things. You can't really structure it before you know what it's going to be.
Myself and a few others have been trying to put effort into organizing things, but it's really a monumental task and i'd like to develop new things more so then catalogue what we already know. It's a crappy balance, but I try to put equal time to developing and organizing/answering questions.
I hope this helped you out some, I know I didn't completely cover it all but it should give you some things to chew on and help you sift through the data by spending more time on the relevant parts. Even then it's still a lot that you should know.
Don't be afraid to ask questions, one of the reasons I go into such depth is because people can correct me precisely where i'm wrong if I am about something.
You learn more when you're willing to admit you don't know something, then to pretend you do for whatever reason. Asking the right questions depends on being honest about what you do and don't know with yourself, so fire away.
I've got to get outside for a few minutes, then get back into coding, but someone else will come along and add to this soon enough.
Take care!
Well I definitely very much appreciate your prompt, and very detailed response to my many questions. I've been reading over what you've written plus the links over the past day. The main issue I have is digging through each thread looking for relevant information, while trying not to get sucked into each and every tangent post/link/info. I lost track of how many hours I've wasted reading irrelevant info which I initially thought actually had something to do with what I was after. And now a day later, I have my desk covered in reference notes (which are no longer comprehensible) and I'm more confused than I was before.
There are plenty of issues I have with forums in general. First of which being, organization seldom exists. Its like going into a library with a single question about 'how to change a tire', and leaving with 15 random, heavy books on quantum theory and black-matter, because apparently someone implied they were somehow related (I'm referring to other people, not you). Discouraging to say the least. I thought this would be more black-and-white; more simple. When 'Android' was new, rooting was simple (less ways to re-invent the wheel).
I'm walking away from this for now. The headache isnt worth it (I literally feel like I got skull-f*cked by god himself). But thank you for your help and feedback.
micahman said:
I just got the MT4GS after being a long time MT4G user and I'm wondering if it is worth it to root as there is currently no CM or stable Virtuous Rom which is what I used on the MT4G. Any helpful opinions are much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it is DEFINITELY worth it... Root away my friend and welcome to the MT4GS family. This phones kicks ass and we are expanding every day like wildfire
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using xda premium
@eon said:
...
I'm walking away from this for now. The headache isnt worth it (I literally feel like I got skull-f*cked by god himself). But thank you for your help and feedback.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hah, yea, XDA is like that all over - just the nature of the beast.
This is not the quick-answer type of home, yet from a developers point of view there is no better place on the internet for android/phone development information and help.
It really does all start here, and the journey of discovery is much more prized and worthwhile then the actual end result. In that respect the way XDA is, is the way it should be.
Sometimes the best way to come to grips with something is to forget about it for a little while. Let your mind work it over running in the background, and when you bring it back into focus you'll have a better hold on what you need, and what you still have to learn.
Again, feel free to ask any questions you may have and we'll do the best we can to get you set in the right direction.
Ya, it was like mass overload the other day; it was like trying to make a PBJ sandwhich, then realizing I have to bake my own bread from scratch, grind up peanuts into butter, and somehow pick my own berries for jam, etc...
Anyways, I read over some of those topics again and some of it makes a little more sense. But still, some of those threads are so damn long, Im not gonna read each and every post from top to bottom of the thread, at least not yet. But the main issue I've realized is definitely going to be a problem is the fact that turning S-Off is irreversible. There is absolutely no method of turning S-On after its been turned off, which doesnt seem to make any sense; I figure, if you are able to flip a light-switch on, its only obvious you should be able to flip the switch off. So why is the 'S-Off' method a one-way path? And is this problem going to be fixed?
I read a bunch of articles and tutorials on 'unrooting' the MT4GS, and each one says that it will change the phone back to the stock factory condition it was in before rooting. Of course, once I scroll down and keep reading comments, everyone says that there isnt a way to turn "S-ON". SO, how the hell would someone be able to root their phone while still ever having the option to do a warranty exchange? Unrooting is great cause it gets you most the way there. But I've been reading that when T-Mobile recieves the phone, they send it to HTC for inspection/repair, and thats where they look at all the software/firmware/h-boot/recovery/S-ON Versions to make sure they are at factory specs. So once again, even though it is possible to "unroot" the MT4GS if need be, it still impossible to fully go back to factory standard (which is exactly what I was worried about).
Thats ****ty cause I was actually willing and ready to start rooting via theunlockr.com's method (cause its a hell of a lot easier than any tutorial in these forums, it does it the same way, its just easier to understand). BUT, that S-ON/S-OFF snafu is enough for me to reconsider. As I'm sure there are tons of benefits to rooting and therefore I may not ever want to unroot, I still may need to for the sake of the warranty exchange. And believe me when I say that I NEED to have the ability to exchange; I've had to exchange the MT4GS 5 times within 3 consecutive weeks because each one I recieved in the mail had some physical manufacturer defects. And since the most recent replacement is a refurb, I need to leave that Warranty-Door open in case I need to exchange.... again.
By the way, I forgot why S-Off was required in the first place. Is it possible to remain rooted without S-Off???
@eon said:
Ya, it was like mass overload the other day; it was like trying to make a PBJ sandwhich, then realizing I have to bake my own bread from scratch, grind up peanuts into butter, and somehow pick my own berries for jam, etc...
Anyways, I read over some of those topics again and some of it makes a little more sense. But still, some of those threads are so damn long, Im not gonna read each and every post from top to bottom of the thread, at least not yet. But the main issue I've realized is definitely going to be a problem is the fact that turning S-Off is irreversible. There is absolutely no method of turning S-On after its been turned off, which doesnt seem to make any sense; I figure, if you are able to flip a light-switch on, its only obvious you should be able to flip the switch off. So why is the 'S-Off' method a one-way path? And is this problem going to be fixed?
I read a bunch of articles and tutorials on 'unrooting' the MT4GS, and each one says that it will change the phone back to the stock factory condition it was in before rooting. Of course, once I scroll down and keep reading comments, everyone says that there isnt a way to turn "S-ON". SO, how the hell would someone be able to root their phone while still ever having the option to do a warranty exchange? Unrooting is great cause it gets you most the way there. But I've been reading that when T-Mobile recieves the phone, they send it to HTC for inspection/repair, and thats where they look at all the software/firmware/h-boot/recovery/S-ON Versions to make sure they are at factory specs. So once again, even though it is possible to "unroot" the MT4GS if need be, it still impossible to fully go back to factory standard (which is exactly what I was worried about).
Thats ****ty cause I was actually willing and ready to start rooting via theunlockr.com's method (cause its a hell of a lot easier than any tutorial in these forums, it does it the same way, its just easier to understand). BUT, that S-ON/S-OFF snafu is enough for me to reconsider. As I'm sure there are tons of benefits to rooting and therefore I may not ever want to unroot, I still may need to for the sake of the warranty exchange. And believe me when I say that I NEED to have the ability to exchange; I've had to exchange the MT4GS 5 times within 3 consecutive weeks because each one I recieved in the mail had some physical manufacturer defects. And since the most recent replacement is a refurb, I need to leave that Warranty-Door open in case I need to exchange.... again.
By the way, I forgot why S-Off was required in the first place. Is it possible to remain rooted without S-Off???
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not permanently. you'd have to temp-root every time you reboot.
Revolutionary is about the easiest way to root a phone in existence so I'm not sure why you're so scared... assuming you have adb working, it's literally as easy as plugging your phone in and opening a single file in the Revolutionary zip archive. everything is done for you. as long as you don't download their faulty recovery (it will ask you if you want to... just say no), it's literally the easiest rooting method available that I've ever seen.
don't make it too complicated. I certainly believe in having all of your bases covered, especially when it comes to potentially screwing up a $500 bundle of plastic, metal and silicone, but rooting is not a big deal anymore.
many people will tell you that they have received warranty replacements after sending in S-OFF/rooted phones. my best guess would be that HTC/Tmo randomly pick phones to "thoroughly check" and the majority don't receive this type of treatment.. and even if they find a rooted device, there's no telling whether or not they will deny your replacement.
I received a warranty replacement (faulty hardware buttons, the leds never turned off) for my gal's rooted MT4GS simply by installing the stock rom and recovery, but still with Revolutionary's hboot installed. No issues whatsoever. I'm not saying it's "right" and I'm not guaranteeing you the same result, just offering my first-hand experience.
here's how you can obtain perma-root and s-off in ~10 minutes. no complicated guides:
www.revolutionary.io
download installer, enter serial # to get your code.
open archive and find the installer... let it run.
when it's done, you'll be rooted and s-off with a custom hboot. say "no" to the download recovery option and manually flash the official CWM recovery, or modaco's 4.0.0.9 recovery image. (either should be fine, although roms are going to start coming out that may have issues with the 4.0.0.9 modaco recovery so cwm is probably your best bet)
if not being able to flip the S-OFF switch back to S-ON at this point is something you can't get over, this isn't for you. personally, I spent $500 on this phone and I'm going to do whatever the hell I want to it, and if TMO and HTC have a problem with that, I will happily take my business elsewhere.
Its not rooting that I'm worried about, its the possibility of having to do (yet another) warranty exchange and being caught sending back a warranty-void device. And since I just found out that my premium phone insurance extends my warranty for an indefinite amount of time, I imagine that i will undoubtedly be exchanging this phone sometime in the future. I can only hope that by then either the S-Off thing has been fixed or T-Mobile announces they no longer care. I can see both happening, honestly.
Rooting is going to be the easy part, if/when I decide to do it. The last things I havent yet figured out are:
-Which Rom(s) I'm going to try. When I compare most roms side by side, they all seem vaguely identical. I remember Cyanogen having the option of fully customized visual aspects/themes, as well as tons of settings/features that werent offered through other roms. But the problem with CM is that, as you said before, the several camera options/modes in the stock rom are not being used by CM. I'm looking for a rom that is, above all, stable; lightweight/fast; includes all camera features of stock rom; and if apps like gmaps wont be included, I'd like to be able to find something that is comparable, or even better if possible. If not, I really hope the market allows gmaps to be installed on a rooted device (a while back on my rooted phone, the install of gmaps would always fail) Also, you had mentioned that you were nearing completion of a Rom of your own, so I might read up on that as well.
-I read up on that article on micro sd cards regarding speed comparisons, so I ended up running the benchmark app on my pc and found that my SanDisk 8bg Class 4 was (apparently) faster than my currently used Samsung 16gb Class 2, which sucks cause I like having more space than I use. But anyways it got me thinking, I realize that speed is important for file-transfers and also running apps that have been moved to the sd, but I could have sworn I remember someone talking about how they had rooted and then installed their OS/Rom onto their SD card instead of the phone itself. I dont know if I read that wrong or not. And if that was accurate, then I want to know if there is truly any benefit from doing that or not.
-Also, in regards to sd cards, I remember last year when I had a rooted MT3G with Amon Ra's recovery, there was an option to throw in partitions. Almost everyone I talked with on here told me to add a partition. Then after a few updates to the recovery, I noticed new options in the partition section: Ext.2, Ext.3, and Ext.4 as well as the options to select the partition size and "swap" size. I never did understand what exactly the difference (if any) between "Ext.2, Ext. 4.... etc" was.
And as far as the "swap" size, I remember there being a LOT of debate over what exactly this number should be. Some people started suggesting outrageously high numbers, while others explicitly explained to not do that, because apparently the lower the number the faster it becomes. Ok, so if thats the basic concept, great. But I still never did find any reliable information regarding "swap" size.
So ya, those are the final questions/issues that have been bugging me. Any advice/help is greatly appreciated.
Hello, I'd like to preface this post by saying it's not my goal to accuse anyone of anything or start a flame war. I'm genuinely curious, and just want some open discussion.
I've been confused recently by an undercurrent of resentment or ill-will in the development section. Dev's threads getting closed or deleted for not getting permission to use this or that in their ROM, snide remarks about their abilities in the ROM release thread, long rambling posts about "haters," etc.
What's with this? From my perspective, it almost looks like developers think they should have the right to post edits/changes to HTC's software and framework without permission, but then turn around and say nobody else can build upon their edits without permission.
I firmly believe in giving credit where credit is due, but isn't it a bit counter-productive and even hypocritical to have threads taken down because another dev says "hey I didn't say you could use that!" Isn't XDA built upon the fact that HTC and other manufacturers turn a blind eye to us using and altering their work and releasing the altered product without permission? What am I missing here?
Just to reiterate one more time: I'm not trying to be accusatory, I just honestly want to understand the other side of this argument and why this behavior is being tolerated around here. Thanks!
I agree with you.....but
There has been a few ROMs posted here, that are completely 'kanged' from someone elses ROM.. Now i know the ROM is based of HTC so we all should do as we wish with it, But when someone has spent a lot of time ironing out bugs, adding tweaks and generally reducing the size and making the ROM better... And then someone steals that, changes the build.prop to change the ROMs name and release it as their own is totally out of order..
Now not to mention any names, but this has been done several times since the release of this phone, Its this sort of behaviour that puts serious Developers off the idea of making this phone better for us all..
Majority of the Devs here hardly get paid for what they do, I doubt they receive enough in donations to jack there job and do this full time.. So wouldnt you be annoyed if someone stole your work ? and every one was giving you credit and thanks and donations, Even though those credits / donations belong to someone else ?
We should SHARE in this community, The majority of us do, However we should NOT KANG other peoples work..
Im a big kanger, i kang 3-4 ROMs together, Using bits i like from each ROM and use it as my daily driver, However I would not dream of releasing it as it goes against everything i stand for..
Great discussion you have right here man.
If you don't ask permission for work you can't use the ROM/files etc.
What sucks is if you PM the developer they still say "No" so what is a win win in this situation? People like the word "kanging". It's not kanging at all because none of these files were made by you! All of these files were made by HTC and there Team! Don't claim anything !
So what about leedroids ROM ?? None of his tweaks came built into the HTC ROM, Hes made them himself.. Would you just take his work even if he said no ??
That my friend is KANGING.
EDIT: You say
What sucks is if you PM the developer they still say "No" so what is a win win in this situation?
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Surely the win win situation is to put the effort in and make these mods / tweaks yourself ?? If a Dev says no, He doesnt mean, sneakily take it and rename it.
azzledazzle said:
So what about leedroids ROM ?? None of his tweaks came built into the HTC ROM, Hes made them himself.. Would you just take his work even if he said no ??
That my friend is KANGING.
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Click to collapse
No I never said that.
I'm just saying. Don't call your work yours because how about if HTC said "Nobody can use our ROM's a base" then if we use it we get sued.
Half of the ROM's are just built of there base with tons of modified things and they still get stuff from other people about "kanging" even with permission etc.
If you don't ask permission for work you can't use the ROM/files etc.
Whats getting you hot and bothered ?? No one here has mentioned your name in any of this, Unless you have a guilty conscience ??
Surely HTC make the ROM and it clearly states 'Do not distribute outside of HTC blabla legal action' Yet every ROM here did so in theory we are all kangers..
But what about android in General ? AOSP / AOKP / MIUI.. all built from scratch.. The effort and hard work Devs put in to make these ROMs work, Surely taking their work and using it without permission is wrong ? wouldn't you agree ?
That's life but I think the people should relax a bit more.
Until Lee's ROM there were only Stock ROMs with some improvement's and tweaks by he_stheone64.
Lee (a great and maybe the best dev) now included any tweaks which available.
But remember that he "only ported" the things from Jan (j4n87 or so is his name).
In fact the whole developement story is just kanging.- Kanging the release's of the company..
azzledazzle said:
Whats getting you hot and bothered ?? No one here has mentioned your name in any of this, Unless you have a guilty conscience ??
Surely HTC make the ROM and it clearly states 'Do not distribute outside of HTC blabla legal action' Yet every ROM here did so in theory we are all kangers..
But what about android in General ? AOSP / AOKP / MIUI.. all built from scratch.. The effort and hard work Devs put in to make these ROMs work, Surely taking their work and using it without permission is wrong ? wouldn't you agree ?
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I'm not saying anything o-o.
I'll take that I'll take that that's a good thing and great way to say it! Even the HBoot says it yet people make S-OFF etc.
Agree 100% Actually Azzle! Right on
I don't think it is a matter of developers not wanting other developers to use there work- it is the fact that they didn't ask! Alot of work goes into making these Roms- it takes less than a min to send a pm- I know - i've done it
zylith said:
I don't think it is a matter of developers not wanting other developers to use there work- it is the fact that they didn't ask! Alot of work goes into making these Roms- it takes less than a min to send a pm- I know - i've done it
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Love it
irony?
Anyway, hope this thread won't get to a ***** fight, I won't post in this one anymore..
zylith said:
I don't think it is a matter of developers not wanting other developers to use there work- it is the fact that they didn't ask! Alot of work goes into making these Roms- it takes less than a min to send a pm- I know - i've done it
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Agreed. We're all a huge team/community just making our own ROMs and putting our personal touches to them. It's not about doing something and achieving something, and not wanting to share. Getting permission to use is all that's really required.
No need to fight over this stuff guys....it's just a mistake that can be fixed. No biggie. Just follow the proper procedures and avoid unnecessary run-ins like this. Let's focus on giving the community what they want....and that's options!!!
itsmikeramsay said:
Agreed. We're all a huge team/community just making our own ROMs and putting our personal touches to them. It's not about doing something and achieving something, and not wanting to share. Getting permission to use is all that's really required.
No need to fight over this stuff guys....it's just a mistake that can be fixed. No biggie. Just follow the proper procedures and avoid unnecessary run-ins like this. Let's focus on giving the community what they want....and that's options!!!
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well put.
Not a dev, but been around awhile
On the HTC side--my impression is they don't mind these kangs, even back to the N1. Hence they allow unlocking. They monitor these forums and look for the improvements by the devs to help them also.
Now, that is just my understanding from xda posts I have read going back 2 years on this topic, I may be wrong--
Otherwise, 100% support for asking first and giving credit to original devs--
Ken
rugmankc said:
Not a dev, but been around awhile
On the HTC side--my impression is they don't mind these kangs, even back to the N1. Hence they allow unlocking. They monitor these forums and look for the improvements by the devs to help them also.
Now, that is just my understanding from xda posts I have read going back 2 years on this topic, I may be wrong--
Otherwise, 100% support for asking first and giving credit to original devs--
Ken
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Exactly.
Sent from ICS device!
Thanks for the replies. It makes sense to ask permission first before using others' work- only common courtesy I appreciate the different thoughts on this. Helps to understand where this stuff is coming from. Hopefully this doesn't become a downward spiral of devs having ill-will towards each other and refusing to work together.
Also, I never said HTC was against this community or what it does- only that it seemed hypocritical from some devs to take their work, alter it, and then actively try to stop others from building upon that.
shinkinrui said:
Thanks for the replies. It makes sense to ask permission first before using others' work- only common courtesy I appreciate the different thoughts on this. Helps to understand where this stuff is coming from. Hopefully this doesn't become a downward spiral of devs having ill-will towards each other and refusing to work together.
Also, I never said HTC was against this community or what it does- only that it seemed hypocritical from some devs to take their work, alter it, and then actively try to stop others from building upon that.
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I would hope this brings us closer together- I am new to the dev world- but have been around xda for years. I have no ill will towards ANYONE. Hell people make mistakes- I make mistakes- fix the problem - then move on. We are here for each-other.
=
with relation to Htc themselves..im still in shock they havent implemented some of the modifications that xda or devs in general have come up with
htc need to be hiring some of the devs..if only to get rid of the nasty status bar they insist on keeping..in some ways i think they are doing it on purpose just to grate people!
look at the one s source for example..many people have complained and its still not released lol..i think they are just laughing at us
Those are not devs, they are just "devs" if you know what I mean
This is my view, Android is open source right? I mean I agree 100% Give credit where it is due but the thing is, we don't give credit to HTC for the rom base every time. It seems like when a system UI for example is modified, i don't see the issue that if you give them credit why do you have to ask them? Did we ask HTC if we can Mod their system UI? I mean its not like it was ours in the first place. It seems all over rated. If you say Hey thanks John Doe for the Blah blah blah then it shouldn't be an issue. That is one thing that can really put a damper on Development.
Look at the situation with people getting mad at HTC for having the HTC Evita (ATT One X) Having a locked bootloader! some of the devs and people here think they are entitled to these things.
Another Example, The HTC Ruby (Amaze 4G) S-off situation. HTC gives them an unlocked bootloader and they Demand S-off from them. I mean where does they hypocrisy end.
Basically, I believe that if dev's are going to request people to ask them first. I want the Dev's to call up htc before they make a rom, in addition to putting "Huge thanks to HTC for the rom base!" In their threads. Its open source, if they want it closed source then I advise the call apple and develop for them.
azzledazzle said:
Whats getting you hot and bothered ?? No one here has mentioned your name in any of this, Unless you have a guilty conscience ??
Surely HTC make the ROM and it clearly states 'Do not distribute outside of HTC blabla legal action' Yet every ROM here did so in theory we are all kangers..
But what about android in General ? AOSP / AOKP / MIUI.. all built from scratch.. The effort and hard work Devs put in to make these ROMs work, Surely taking their work and using it without permission is wrong ? wouldn't you agree ?
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Click to collapse
His response doesn't sound like he's hot or bothered at all. Looks like you're the one catching feelings
Sent from my Sensation using xda premium
Hi,
I just bought a one s and read through the forums for root, s-off and so on.
Compared to my EVO 3D and Sensation, s-off seems to be less painfull since there are some convenient exploits around that don't need any hardware actions (as the wire trick or soft brick the device).
But I got a little bit concerned about some posts claiming that after s-off the 3g connectivity got lost,
though reading the threads of the latest/greatest custom roms, there's nothing mentioned.
There's one dedicated thread in dev section, but I found no clear statement on how this is to fix.
Some state, that simply changing rom helps to get 3g back.
Some say it's a radio thing.
One member described a method where memory block is manipulated, but this also didn't work for all.
Till now I s-offed each htc phone I owned immediately, but now I'm getting doubts.
I'd appreciate any feedback on this from you experienced ville users out there.
To save you money, time and grief DONT DO IT.
Surely me and most everyone else is thankful that these guys spend time developing and tinkering but I screwed 2 One S,
that is when those disclaimers kick in, and I also looked, not exhaustively, for a skilled JTAG tech/user, the guy I sent it to
said he couldn't figure it out.
Maybe someone here can; most people that JTAG said that doing it to that phone is hard because it has to be taken apart.
Honestly, S-Off would make sense if its a new device to come in the market, as you have noticed, most ROMs and apps just
disappeared and the latest radio put together by someone in here is a 1.35.XX.XX. Since ROMs are limited, and most developers
dont even bother with this device just leave it alone. If flashing the radios is what you want, try the Aroma radio installer for Sense,
if I remember correctly, I think I flashed a radio while running SlimROM and the radio did not reset after reboot.
P.S. If you decide to do it, before hand, find a JTAG tech that has experience with it and can fix this problem, and post it here, please.
I'm still holding on to it in case I find such a person.
sns00 said:
To save you money, time and grief DONT DO IT.
Surely me and most everyone else is thankful that these guys spend time developing and tinkering but I screwed 2 One S,
that is when those disclaimers kick in, and I also looked, not exhaustively, for a skilled JTAG tech/user, the guy I sent it to
said he couldn't figure it out.
Maybe someone here can; most people that JTAG said that doing it to that phone is hard because it has to be taken apart.
Honestly, S-Off would make sense if its a new device to come in the market, as you have noticed, most ROMs and apps just
disappeared and the latest radio put together by someone in here is a 1.35.XX.XX. Since ROMs are limited, and most developers
dont even bother with this device just leave it alone. If flashing the radios is what you want, try the Aroma radio installer for Sense,
if I remember correctly, I think I flashed a radio while running SlimROM and the radio did not reset after reboot.
P.S. If you decide to do it, before hand, find a JTAG tech that has experience with it and can fix this problem, and post it here, please.
I'm still holding on to it in case I find such a person.
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Click to collapse
OP is four month old ...
I never screwed up ANY HTC phone, because they are pretty nice to handle. If the phone fits the prerequisites S-OFF is easy to gain. That users screw their phones by wrong handling is not the dev's fault
Well, good for you:victory:. Since you know so much, why not show everyone else how to properly handle the device?
Did not mentioned methods/names, so I think I did not offended anyone. If software/hardware did not break, there wouldn't
be a disclaimer on the device and on the software.
That the post is 4 months old is irrelevant, we are not the only ones with One S. Next time provide a solution along with criticism.
If this post offended anyone in any way shape or form, complain to a moderator so my post can be erased.
LS.xD said:
OP is four month old ...
I never screwed up ANY HTC phone, because they are pretty nice to handle. If the phone fits the prerequisites S-OFF is easy to gain. That users screw their phones by wrong handling is not the dev's fault
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Click to collapse
sns00 said:
Well, good for you:victory:. Since you know so much, why not show everyone else how to properly handle the device?
Did not mentioned methods/names, so I think I did not offended anyone. If software/hardware did not break, there wouldn't
be a disclaimer on the device and on the software.
That the post is 4 months old is irrelevant, we are not the only ones with One S. Next time provide a solution along with criticism.
If this post offended anyone in any way shape or form, complain to a moderator so my post can be erased.
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Click to collapse
I'm fine with your post I try to help in any case I can. Since today I "bricked" one Samsung phone by following a incorrect guide from another forum, cost me 40$ to repair the bootloader. But that can happen and its totally okay for me and I won't stop modding phones just because of it. For most users S-OFF works without any problem and grant a lot of benefits. So just because you screwed up two One S you can't tell other members to don't set their phone S-OFF as it will probably brick...
Dude, they will do whatever they want with their devices, regardless of what you , me or anyone say.
And the same way you can speak your piece, I can speak my piece, so do not tell me that I can't say this or that. If you don't like what others have to say, there's a number of things you could do instead of reading what I type.
Just sharing an experience that things can go wrong, as it just happened to you. S-Off'ing a phone is something I wouldn't pontificate to a regular user, because if things don't work out I'm not going to pay for a replacement or repair costs. That mod is a "at your own risk" as most other mods are. Do you realize we are a minority, a big chunk of the world don't even install themes on their devices, millions of locked bootloaders, billions of S-On devices and I had nothing to do with it; what are you going to do about that?
S-On works for me, so far, with my M8 GPe, I don't earn a living working with phones or anything related to it, I don't even know how to make a simple app, so what I post is not the gospel, as I assumed it is implied.
"For MOST users S-OFF works..." I rest my case.
LS.xD said:
I'm fine with your post I try to help in any case I can. Since today I "bricked" one Samsung phone by following a incorrect guide from another forum, cost me 40$ to repair the bootloader. But that can happen and its totally okay for me and I won't stop modding phones just because of it. For most users S-OFF works without any problem and grant a lot of benefits. So just because you screwed up two One S you can't tell other members to don't set their phone S-OFF as it will probably brick...
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Click to collapse
sns00 said:
"For MOST users S-OFF works..."
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Click to collapse
Most off the poeple, who set their HTC One S and other HTC devices S-OFF, still enjoy a working phone after this modification.
Better?
I just got one question left.
After you broke one HTC One S, why you did you risk doing (probably the same thing) again?