Some questions regading HTC explorer unlock - General Questions and Answers

Hello guys! I'm a newbie to the android world as i'm planning to get my first smartphone. As it is retailing for 130€ the HTC Explorer seems like a good choice.
I want to learn how to root it because I need to unlock it as I need to use different sim cards. Moreover I want to exploit the phone, optimize it and maybe OC it a bit.
As far as i understood i need to do the following steps:
This tutorial to root it: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1415223
This rom to install: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1473218
Are these the right steps to take?
And would be "easy" for someone that doesn't know anything to do it?
Thanks for your help guys!

c'mon guys, 5 min of your time!!

DavidSnake said:
Hello guys! I'm a newbie to the android world as i'm planning to get my first smartphone. As it is retailing for 130€ the HTC Explorer seems like a good choice.
I want to learn how to root it because I need to unlock it as I need to use different sim cards. Moreover I want to exploit the phone, optimize it and maybe OC it a bit.
As far as i understood i need to do the following steps:
This tutorial to root it: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1415223
This rom to install: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1473218
Are these the right steps to take?
And would be "easy" for someone that doesn't know anything to do it?
Thanks for your help guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As for the guide to root the Explorer, he's basically spoon feeding instructions, so as long as you do exactly what he's doing, there shouldn't be a problem. If you have any specific questions about the process, you might want to ask in that thread.
The ROMing part is the very easy part, you choose a ROM of your choice and flash it. The link for the ROM you posted requires a certain recovery (and it appears to need some ext partition), so bear that in mind. Remember to read everything to be safe. I think most Sense ROMs require a partitioned SD card.
Sent from my MB508 using xda premium

gagdude said:
As for the guide to root the Explorer, he's basically spoon feeding instructions, so as long as you do exactly what he's doing, there shouldn't be a problem. If you have any specific questions about the process, you might want to ask in that thread.
The ROMing part is the very easy part, you choose a ROM of your choice and flash it. The link for the ROM you posted requires a certain recovery (and it appears to need some ext partition), so bear that in mind. Remember to read everything to be safe. I think most Sense ROMs require a partitioned SD card.
Sent from my MB508 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for your reply!
I also see there are a lot of topics regarding kernel.
Should I also update the kernel after rooting it? Or does the rom update already includes a more functional kernel?

DavidSnake said:
Thanks a lot for your reply!
I also see there are a lot of topics regarding kernel.
Should I also update the kernel after rooting it? Or does the rom update already includes a more functional kernel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
JaggyROM already includes a custom kernel.
What the kernel does is manages the CPU. Different kernels have different governers, some kernels help battery life, other kernels help with the performance of the device.
For example, the stock kernel cannot overclock, does not have governers like smartass or interactive. But flashing a custom kernel may allow OCing and give you more governers.
I, myself have never flashed a custom kernel by itself because the ROMs I flash already have good enough kernels included.
Sent from my MB508 using xda premium

Ok cool, so i will install the jaggyROM and have nothing to worry!
One last question: does the process of rooting unlock the SIM card? From what i've read by unlocking the bootloader you also unlock the sim card.
If not are there any more steps i need to take?
Or it is simply not possible and i have to buy a IMEI code to unlock the SIM card?

DavidSnake said:
Ok cool, so i will install the jaggyROM and have nothing to worry!
One last question: does the process of rooting unlock the SIM card? From what i've read by unlocking the bootloader you also unlock the sim card.
If not are there any more steps i need to take?
Or it is simply not possible and i have to buy a IMEI code to unlock the SIM card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting does not unlock the SIM card, nor does unlocking the bootloader, sorry.
For your phone, yes you will have to unlock the traditional way
Sent from my MB508 using xda premium

i found this tutorial in another website. is it bogus?
[INSTRUCTIONS]:
[Prerequisites:]
HTC Sync (Windows Only)
HTC Super Tool
Enable USB Debug on Pico
Use Charge Only mode when connected to PC
Exit HTC Sync on PC
[Steps:]
1. Go to HTCDEV website: HTCdev - Unlock Bootloader
2. Click on "Begin Unlock Bootloader" (create a user if you don't have one)
3. Use HTC Super Tool in the [Prerequisites] to generate your token. (Or, alternatively, follow the instructions step 1 through step 10 on htcdev.com)
4. In step 10, when posting your token, make sure you remove the blanks preceding each line
5. After you receive your Unlock_code.bin in email, follow step 11.
6. Now your pico aka explorer should reboot and you have your bootloader and sim unlocked.
(i didn't put any credits or source as i dont know the forum policy)

As far as I know, unlocking the bootloader will not SIM unlock the phone. The guide itself sounds legit, and I believe that is the way to unlock the bootloader, but the SIM should still be locked.
and I thought I should point this out, I'm pretty sure unlocking the bootloader will factory reset your phone, so you might want to make a backup of everything first
Sent from my MB508 using xda premium

ok thanks a lot for your help!
i will buy the phone tomorrow and we'll see what happens
do you know any safe website to buy an unlocking code in case that tutorial doesn't work?

DavidSnake said:
ok thanks a lot for your help!
i will buy the phone tomorrow and we'll see what happens
do you know any safe website to buy an unlocking code in case that tutorial doesn't work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem! Always glad to help. (And remember to click the thanks button for whichever posts you found helpful hehe )
I've never had to unlock my phone, but what I think the best place to unlock is at a local cell shop. However, they do charge a lot, for profit and such. Otherwise, the next best option is to use eBay and make sure its a trusted seller with good feedback. Personally, all those SIM unlocking sites look fishy to me
Sent from my MB508 using xda premium

DavidSnake said:
i found this tutorial in another website. is it bogus?
[INSTRUCTIONS]:
[Prerequisites:]
HTC Sync (Windows Only)
HTC Super Tool
Enable USB Debug on Pico
Use Charge Only mode when connected to PC
Exit HTC Sync on PC
[Steps:]
1. Go to HTCDEV website: HTCdev - Unlock Bootloader
2. Click on "Begin Unlock Bootloader" (create a user if you don't have one)
3. Use HTC Super Tool in the [Prerequisites] to generate your token. (Or, alternatively, follow the instructions step 1 through step 10 on htcdev.com)
4. In step 10, when posting your token, make sure you remove the blanks preceding each line
5. After you receive your Unlock_code.bin in email, follow step 11.
6. Now your pico aka explorer should reboot and you have your bootloader and sim unlocked.
(i didn't put any credits or source as i dont know the forum policy)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm this does sim unlock the Explorer! Yays. Shame it has to void warranty ... o_0 now to see if I can relock bootloader and keep sim unlock...

Funny enough, i read about it and didnt think it would work. But i just unlocked one of those phones which was carrier branded and didnt want to accept the code the box gave me. As last resort i tried this method and i can confirm it works. Incredible!!!! When i thought this was a very hard phone to sim unlock i found this thread and unlocked the bootloader and that was it, i got a sim unlocked HTC Explorer. Good Job you guys!

Related

buying verizon gs3 this weekend question about unlocking bootloader

Hey all. My early upgrade is this weekend so I'm going to but a gs3 but I must be able to root and unlock boot loader.
Was looking at the unlock app
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mmmeff.ez.unlock
And see that the recent reviews saying they are having issues unlocking boot loader since update from Verizon.
Is the app broken now And or did they patch the phone so u cant unlock the boot loader?
I don't amt to buy this phone then end up not being able to unlock the bootloader (I can't stand anything other than aosp)
Lmk. Also how would I go about unlocking the boot loader without using that app or is that the only way to do so?
This is posted all over this forum. However, all you need to do is search for version 1.2 and it will unlock the bootloader, after you root, of course.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
the guide posted at the top of the dev forum should be your new best friend
HHF2 said:
This is posted all over this forum. However, all you need to do is search for version 1.2 and it will unlock the bootloader, after you root, of course.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is my copy http://db.tt/TtOVCI1W . Just make sure you root first .
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Valkyrie743 said:
Hey all. My early upgrade is this weekend so I'm going to but a gs3 but I must be able to root and unlock boot loader.
Was looking at the unlock app
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mmmeff.ez.unlock
And see that the recent reviews saying they are having issues unlocking boot loader since update from Verizon.
Is the app broken now And or did they patch the phone so u cant unlock the boot loader?
I don't amt to buy this phone then end up not being able to unlock the bootloader (I can't stand anything other than aosp)
Lmk. Also how would I go about unlocking the boot loader without using that app or is that the only way to do so?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The developer recommends version 1.2 and you can get that from here: http://rootzwiki.com/topic/32456-app-920-ez-unlock-14-easiest-way-to-unlock-your-bootloader/
There is a way to unlock the bootloader manually, but that takes a bit more effort and some terminal coding. I would definitely recommend just downloading EZ-Unlock v1.2 and using that. It's just a push of a button! That's what I did.
At the risk of being reprimanded.....
My phone is rooted and I have unlocked the boot-loader with One click "ez bootloader unlock." I have flashed numerous ROM's and continue to flash various ROM's... After flashing each new ROM and getting through the initial setup, I download ClockWorkMod from the play store, if not already part of the ROM, and then "One click ez bootloader unlock." I then run the "One click ez bootloader unlock" and then the ClockWorkMod for my model phone. I do this each time I flash a new ROM.
My question is whether this is unnecessary or not? I see that the later versions of "One click ez bootloader unlock" have a re-lock option, but I am unclear as whether or not it is unnecessary to unlock the boot-loader each and every time a person flashes a new ROM? Or under what circumstances would a person need to unlock their boot-loader after successfully unlocking it the first time?
It seems to me that once the boot-loader is successfully unlocked that a person would not have to unlock it again unless they ODIN back to Stock OEM, but I have not been able to google or search these forums successfully to find an answer, and for that I apologize, because I'm sure it's here somewhere, and some "Senior Member" will be quick to jump at the opportunity to point that out to me.... After a healthy dose of liquid courage, I am reluctantly asking the question here.... And if someone is so kinda as to answer my question, who knows, maybe it will help some other person who has the same question, but is afraid to ask, because of the harshness and lack of patience of some "Senior Members?"
A sincere thank you in advance to anyone who might answer my question. :fingers-crossed:
The only time you need to re-unlock the bootloader is if you Odin back to stock.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Can i update my firmware to 2.20

Hi Guys
Sorry for asking the same old question again..
I just got my AT&t HTC One x from US shipped over to India by my cousin.
It is locked to AT&t and i am unable to use a local network sim in it
I know i need to root it and turn S-off in order to unlock it.
The phone is on Firmware 1.85? and i have tried the ways mentioned in xda to root it but i guess when i click "Check for updates" it doesn't work.
So my question is
Can i manually by connecting the phone to Computer,update firmware to 2.20 so that i can root it that way?
And is it possible to unlock the BOOTLOADER w/out rooting so that phone gets unlocked to other carriers?
please help me out guys i have tried everything to make it work.. thank you
Unlocking the bootloader/rooting/dancing in circles WILL NOT sim unlock the phone.
You will need to use an online sim unlocking service (usually about 20 bucks) to get the unlock code
Currently, S-Off has not been achieved for this phone. And as already mentioned, bootloader unlock will not get you SIM unlock, and no free hack/mod method currently exists. You either need to use a paid unlock service, or if your cousin is currently an AT&T account holder, he can ask AT&T for the SIM unlock code (he will need the IMEI number of the phone, and maybe other info).
If you want root and unlocked bootloader for other reasons (flashing custom ROMs and other mods) there is no reason to upgrade to 2.20. Root method exists for 1.85. You need to root, SuperCID, then unlock the bootloader. Then you can install a custom recovery and flash custom ROMs.
Upgrading to 2.20 is not recommended. The 2.20 RUU will upgrade your hboot, which plugs the holes by which kernels and radios can be flashed from recovery. You will have to flash the boot.img separately every time your flash a ROM. No benefit to updating to 2.20, and actually lose ability to do some things.
If you still want root and bootloader unlock, refer to my index for links to root methods, etc.: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1671237
And no, bootloader unlock is not possible without root (temp root in case of 2.20) on the AT&T One X.
area51avenger said:
Unlocking the bootloader/rooting/dancing in circles WILL NOT sim unlock the phone.
You will need to use an online sim unlocking service (usually about 20 bucks) to get the unlock code
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dancing in circles? ok got your point.
redpoint73 said:
Currently, S-Off has not been achieved for this phone. And as already mentioned, bootloader unlock will not get you SIM unlock, and no free hack/mod method currently exists. You either need to use a paid unlock service, or if your cousin is currently an AT&T account holder, he can ask AT&T for the SIM unlock code (he will need the IMEI number of the phone, and maybe other info).
If you want root and unlocked bootloader for other reasons (flashing custom ROMs and other mods) there is no reason to upgrade to 2.20. Root method exists for 1.85. You need to root, SuperCID, then unlock the bootloader. Then you can install a custom recovery and flash custom ROMs.
Upgrading to 2.20 is not recommended. The 2.20 RUU will upgrade your hboot, which plugs the holes by which kernels and radios can be flashed from recovery. You will have to flash the boot.img separately every time your flash a ROM. No benefit to updating to 2.20, and actually lose ability to do some things.
If you still want root and bootloader unlock, refer to my index for links to root methods, etc.: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1671237
And no, bootloader unlock is not possible without root (temp root in case of 2.20) on the AT&T One X.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for a detailed answer. The reason i though it would unlock the sim was cause i had used other htc phones earlier and when you root them the S-off was achieved so thats why.. anyhow.. thank you for enlightening my dumb bum.
You're not dumb. Just ignorant. Now you have been enlightened. You still have a great phone, you just might have to pay a little bit so you can unlock and use it
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
area51avenger said:
You're not dumb. Just ignorant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The word "ignorant" has always sounded like a pejorative word to me. But I had to look up the definition, figuring maybe I don't really know the literal meaning of the word. Which turned out to be the case. One of the definitions of ignorant is "Lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about something in particular" which seems to exactly fit this situation. I guess I gave myself the English lesson for the day!
Every phone is different, and HTC in particular is always changing around their security measures. So the OP is not dumb in any way, but was just missing some particular pieces of information.

[Q] Newbie again

Hi guys
I am new and never flash firmware on HTC before.
I have go HTC one XL from hongkong unlocked with JB (just recently got the official download) but not happy with the data connection speed and it is very slow for some reason. ICS was better than the Hongkong official JB release unfortunately.
Since I am in Australia I want to flash my firmware with the stock rooted Telstra [ROM] 01/01/13 Stock rooted odexed JB Telstra_WWE_3.17.841.2.
Can some one pls point me to the right direction - I am not sure where to start (previously I own SG2 and flashed firmware no issues).
I am aware that there are more options on how to flash in HTC I am abit worried that I might follow the incorrect steps
Thank you
Unfortunately, some changes were deployed in the official JB update which causes the touch screen to not function if you try changing to any ROM that is not also Sense JB. So currently, if you flash an ICS ROM, the touch screen will not work.
Devs may be working on this. But its more likely that it won't be solved until we have kernel source for JB. Until the issue is fixed, you are stuck with Sense JB ROMs.
If you still want to be able to flash custom ROMs, the proper sequence is:
- Unlock bootloader at HTCDev.com
- Install TWRP recovery
- Download custom ROM, and copy to phone's SD
- Flash ROM in TWRP
- Flash boot.img using fastboot
You can start reading here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1671237
redpoint73 said:
Unfortunately, some changes were deployed in the official JB update which causes the touch screen to not function if you try changing to any ROM that is not also Sense JB. So currently, if you flash an ICS ROM, the touch screen will not work.
Devs may be working on this. But its more likely that it won't be solved until we have kernel source for JB. Until the issue is fixed, you are stuck with Sense JB ROMs.
If you still want to be able to flash custom ROMs, the proper sequence is:
- Unlock bootloader at HTCDev.com
- Install TWRP recovery
- Download custom ROM, and copy to phone's SD
- Flash ROM in TWRP
- Flash boot.img using fastboot
You can start reading here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1671237
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers for the reply.
Yes i still want to flash the telstra jb available hoping that performance is going to be abit better.
Do I still have to unlock my bootloader? Eventoughmy phone is unlocked? Sorry for the basic questions. I will have a read on the link as well. Thanks guys
Sent from my HTC One XL using Tapatalk 2
Hi guys
Been trying to read the suggested link. I am seriously confused.
Do I need to unlock my bootloader?
Is the any tutorial for complete newbie?
Thanks guys
Sent from my HTC One XL using Tapatalk 2
ardabelati said:
Hi guys
Been trying to read the suggested link. I am seriously confused.
Do I need to unlock my bootloader?
Is the any tutorial for complete newbie?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to read until it makes sense as a complete newbie will just end up bricking the phone.
You do need to unlock the bootloader. Your phone may be "unlocked" in relation to allowing any SIM from any provider, but that is 100% unrelated to unlocking the bootloader.
The Telstra 3.17 is unlikely to make any difference to the Hong Kong based 3.17. They are almost identical except for the few Telstra apps included.
Have you checked that your APN is set to telstra.wap so that LTE will function? The Hong Kong phones ship with incorrect settings for Telstra.
You could refer to this link for help, but ignore it's advise to set telstra.internet as that is incorrect(it is only for 4g modems, not phones) and will prevent some Telstra apps from working correctly:
https://support.mobicity.com.au/ent...up-the-htc-one-xl-on-telstra-s-4g-lte-network
Also you should check Telstras coverage as LTE is only available in limited areas.
http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/coverage-networks/our-coverage/mobile-broadband/
Beyond these suggestions you should take up your speed issues with Telstra.
ardabelati said:
Do I need to unlock my bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already answered this in post #2 above. Don't know why you are asking the same question again.
Twisteddx beat me to answering your other questions, and I agree with all he said.
You're confusing unlocking the SIM versus unlocking the bootloader. SIM unlocked just means you can use SIMs for any carrier. Bootloader unlock removed write protection for certain partitions of the memory, allowing you to install custom recovery, custom ROMs, etc. SIM unlock and BL unlock are not related in any way.
I'm not a huge fan of simple tutorials. They invite you to try mods with a minimum of knowledge, which is really the opposite of what you should do. Read up, and learn as much as you can, as twisted mentioned, you will be performing things that can cause permanent damage to the phone if not done completely properly. You need to have a deep understanding of what you are doing before you start. Even if you follow the steps to the letter, things all-to-often go awry. And being armed with as much knowledge as possible is the best way to prepare for such events.
The amount of information can be daunting, for sure. But once you become more familiar with the terms and basic concepts, you will probably see its actually not that complicated. Maybe start with some of the "Misc Guides" at the bottom of the 1st post of my Index thread, such as the Terminology glossary. Look at other posts by similar users in Q&A, and go from there.

[Q] Will I lose unlock if I install a new ROM?

Hello, my name is Armando. This is my first post here, and I only have one question. First of all I want to say thanks to all you guys, I've found a lot of useful stuff here for my phone Ok, let's go for it:
I recently unlocked my Huawei Y511 to use it on any carrier, and it was succesful (I didn't unlock it by myself, a repairman did it). The problem is... my phone still got all the original carrier stuff (boot animation, some crappy apps and sounds) and I want to delete all of them. I rooted my phone before the unlock (temporary root which I found in this same forum: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2130276) and I leave all the stock ROM untouched before the unlock. I noticed that the guy who unlocked it used a "unlock box" named "SigmaBox" and he told me that my phone was able to be unlocked directly, without needing to wipe and reinstall all the software (I give him the phone, then one hour later I have my phone all unlocked, and it was the same way it was before it).
Now my question is... if I install a new ROM or whatever... will I lose my sim unlock?
I don't understand how he unlocked the phone, all I know is that he did a "direct unlock" but I don't know if he used unlocking codes. All I know is that he used some kind of USB box connected from my phone to a computer, and did his magic and surprise, phone unlocked.
Do you know what kind of unlock is this? And how does it work?
PD: Sorry for my bad english, my native language is spanish but I'm trying to improve my english skills (so I didn't use a translator).
I don't know much about unlocking. But I'm pretty sure that you won't loose the unlock status if you flash custom rom
Sent from my LG-E610 using xda app-developers app
atulkris said:
I don't know much about unlocking. But I'm pretty sure that you won't loose the unlock status if you flash custom rom
Sent from my LG-E610 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply, and yeah, I think you are right.
After doing a little research, I found that a "direct unlock" is basically the generation and input of unlocking codes generated by both IMEI and carrier code, and the unlock box generated three codes which only one of them worked and the phone gets unlocked. So, my phone is
unlocked for ever and I won't lose my unlock status even if I install/update/reinstall the ROM.
If any of you guys know something else about this unlock procedure, please let us know!

the s off via java card info thread

disclaimer!
*this thread is not intending to promote the sale of any particular service or cell phone reseller.
*this thread is intended to provide info only. any questions,please ask,some i may add to the FAQ.
*please abide by all forum rules in posting so this thread can remain open
this method uses an official htc java card to turn off the phones security data. the card exists as a legitimate tool for cell phone shops and re-sellers,primarily for the purpose of removing the phones simlock.
since this method of s off is somewhat unusual,this thread is intended to help support folks that are unsure of the differences and similarities. use this info at your own risk.
in this first post,i thot a few FAQs needed to be put in one place,as they are being asked over and over again in the thread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: what is s off?what does it do for me?
A: in a nutshell,s-off=security off. it removes all security checks and allows access to all partitions of the phone this means you can:
-change hboot
-change splash inage
-change radios
-flash unsigned files
-go backwards in firmware versions
-other things that maybe ill add later
Q: is this java card process legit??
A:yes,it is. as mentioned above,the java card is a legitimate tool used by some large cell phone repair shops and re-sellers.
Q: how does this work?
A:the java card is plugged into a USB On The Go cable,and plugged into the phone. the java card contains htc-signed diagnostic files wich are used to clear security data. when the phone is booted to hboot with the java card plugged in,it finds the diagnostic file and jumps to a mode where the user can clear "s58" data. this removes any simlock,changes the CID to a generic "supercid",and most importantly,turns off the phones radio secure flag. hooray!
this video of an htc one x will give you a good idea what the process looks like:
HTC One X S-OFF
Q: what exactly is a java card?
A: simply,a java card is an sd card with a microprocessor in it. if someone wishes to provide a more detailed definition,id be happy to put it here.
Q: can we clone the java card so everyone can have s off?
A: yes. but its complicated,and the card to begin with is expensive. there have been some technical discussions about this,but the simple answer is that it is not easy,or practical to clone the java card.
Q: why do i have to pay for this?? shouldnt s off be free?
A: if you have a prollem paying for this service,you are welcome to purchase your own java card and offer the service for free. as has been stated,the java card is expensive- upwards of $1000 depending how may credits are included.
further,even if a software exploit was available,it is good custom to donate to the devs who brought you the tool. remember,no one here owes you custom roms,s-off,etc. support your devs and what they bring you.
Q: is the card good forever?
A: NO! the java card has a limited number of uses.
Q: how do i use this service?
A: you will need to track down a phone shop or reseller that has a card. these are not common,but are available in most countries with some searching.
Q: if im allready unlocked,should i still get s off?
A: in my opinion,yes. wether done via a java card or software exploit,s off is better. it allows more options to recover soft-bricked devices,and allows access to all partitions. an s on phone is still doing plenty of security checks. it also allows a permantly installed recovery to install the boot image. the downside is that your phone WILL let you brick it if your not careful. know what your flashing and why. double check md5 sums to verify the integrity of your downloads. a corrupt bootloader ot radio can damage your phone,potentially unrecoverably. if you just asked "what is an md5sum?" stop and google it now. there are numerous md5summers avaialable for free on the vast interweb,download one and start using it.
Q: if im allready unlocked and running a custom rom and recovery,do i need to take any precautions?
A: yes. the diag file is designed to work on stock software and firmware. i would strongly recomend to:
-restore a bone stock nandroid,or flash a bone stock rom
-reflash your stock recovery
-reflash your stock boot image if you were running a custom kernel
-select 'factory reset' option from hboot
Q: will this wipe my phone?
A: yes it will. so back up your sd card to the pc,and be prepaired to have to re-set everything up when you get it back.
Q: does my phone need to be active?
A: no it does not.
Q: does my sim card need to be present?
A: no it does not.
Q: how do i activate a spare phone while mine is away?
A:it depends on the phone. if you have a gsm phone,or a 4g vzw phone,you can simply swap over your active sim. if the sim is larger in the spare phone,adapters do exist for extremely cheap on ebay and amazon. alternately,you can call vzw,sprint,or your other cdma carriers, or go to their website to activate an older 3g device.
Q: how do i activate my phone when it comes back?
A: like you normally would. s off by itself does not change anything about the phone or how it oporates. its what you do afterward/modify that can have an impact on "normal" operation. so if you moved your sim into another phone,just move it back. if you mailed your phone directly to a reseller with the protective film still on it,then take everything out of the box and activate just like you would if it had just come from htc or your carrier.
Q: if my phone was carrier blocked by htc dev,will i be able to unlock the bootloader if my phone is s off?
A: yes. when the phone comes back,it will have "supercid". this ignores the mid(model id) check that htcdev does on the phone,and will let you get a token and unlock.
Q: are there advantages to unlocking the bootloader?
A: you have a couple extra fastboot commands you can use:
fastboot flash partition imagename.img
and
fastboot boot imagename.img
these commands are useful to install recovery,and boot images into phone memory. with fastboot bootfor example,you can temporarily launch recovery on the phone to flash su if you dont want to permantly install it.
Q: so do i NEED to unlock the bootloader to install recovery?
A: no,you do not. you can install recoveries and all other partitions as zip files. more info on that later.
Q: does superCID give you any benefits?
A: in a word,maybe. on a gsm device where you have multiple carrier and regional firmwares that will work,supercid is of value. with a device on vzw sprint,or other cdma carriers using specific firmware,you can only use those specific ruus anyway. further,accepting an OTA with supercid could leave you unrecoverably bricked,plus it may interfer some some verizon functions(i remember inc 4g users having issue,but the details escape me)
IMO,after unlocking your bootloader,if you choose to do so,you should change your CID back to stock VZW__001 (thats 2 underscores- cid is always 8 digits),HTC__001(again 2 underscores) or whatever it happened to be.
Q: is my cid unique to my particulare phone?
A: no,it is not. it is unique to a carrier or region. all verizon phones ever made have a cid of VZW__001
Q: how do i change my cid back to stock?
A: with this fastboot command:
fastboot oem writecid xxxxxxxx
Q: why is my cid always present on the hboot screen?
A: i dont know htc's logic,but this is simply what the phone does while its s off. it will display whatever your cid is,and is not dependent of your bootloader being locked or unlocked.
Q: what about the TAMPERED and unlocked/relocked badges?
A: if your phone was unlocked when you sent it in, youll get it back factory fresh locked. the tampered badge,i am unsure of at this time,and will update as more info is obtained.
if you sent in a brand new phone,it obviously wont be different(with exception of s off)
one of the big advantages of s off,is that the tampered flag is not triggered by adding a custom recovery or kernel,and since s off removes the various write protections that exist,it is posible to reset either flag. more info on the lock status flag here
Q: will an OTA change my s-off or lock status?
A: it is possible. altho,it is highly unlikely since turning the radio secure flags on via an OTA would also do so on legitimate pre-release test phones.
however...
it really is not reccomended that you try and take an OTA while rooted. a custom recovery is unable to install HTC's OTA pacakage,and attempting to do so ca jam you up horribly. taking an OTA with bloat and system files remove will typicaly result in failure,and taking an OTA with supercid could lead to a processor "do not boot" mode,wich is very effectively a hard brick only recoverable via jtag. or a new device.
the best way to update a rooted device is to update the rom with a recovery-flashable zip file,and the firmware extracted from the OTA package. this will update you just like taking the OTA. there is nothing magical about over the air updates. please,just do it manually. leave the OTAs for the stock crowd.
last and not least!
Q:what do i do once i get back my stock,s-off phone?
A: please see post 2
once you have recieved your stock,s off device back,your basic steps are:
1)change CID/MID back to stock
2)install a recovery
3)install a rom or root access
you have 2 options to install recovery:
1)unlock the bootloader and use fastboot commands
2)leave the bootloader locked,and flash a recovery as a zip file in RUU mode
either way works. i personally always keep my bootloader unlocked so i can use fastboot commands,but that is a personal preference.
to "root by recovery" is not a new concept. once there are no write protections,its easy to install a custom recovery,and use that recovery to either insert the superuser files into the stock rom,or replace the rom entirely.
1) change cid back to stock
this is actually very easy. simply put the phone in fastboot,change to fastboot directory,and enter in a cmd window:
fastboot oem writecid xxxxxxxx
in the case of vzw:
fastboot oem writecid VZW__001
yes,those must be capital letters,and there are 2 underscores.
2) install a recovery
via one of these 2 methods:
1)unlock the bootloader
your phone has come back from sonic with "supercid",wich will allow you to unlock the bootloader natuarally via the htcdev website. see this post for a bit more info on that.
unlocking the bootloader is fairly straightforward,just make sure you use a vzw one specific image. download from one of the following threads:
*links provided when available
the image is easily installed via an unlocked bootloader with the following command:
fastboot flash recovery imagename.img
for example,recovery named CW_touch_recovery:
fastboot flash recovery CW_touch_recovery.img
the image must be in your fastboot working directory.
if you need more specific help with unlock/recovery flashing you can use this guide.
2) keep locked bootloader
the bootloader can stay locked for this method. you can in fact use this to install a new image to any partition,as long as the image is packed up in a proper file.
this assumes a working adb/fastboot and drivers installed. if you dont have these things,you can use this guide from above,downloading the files in post 1,and following the set up adb and prepair to root part in step 2.
once you have adb and fastboot working,download one of the following recovery zip files. do NOT unzip or extract.
*links provided when available
your zip file is flashed in the following manner:
if youre working with a booted,operational phone,you can flsh the file in the following manner:
-open a cmd window
-change to adb/fastboot directory
cd c:\foldername
(cd c:\mini-adb if youve used any of my guides )
-place the zip file you want to flash into adb/fastboot directory
-enable usb debug,disable fastboot,plug in phone
-check for connectivity
adb devices (should return serial number)
-boot to fastboot
adb reboot bootloader
-check for connectivity again
fastboot devices
-flash the file
fastboot erase cache
fastboto oem rebootRUU (will put you in ruu mode,black screen silver htc letters)
fastboot flash zip zipfilename.zip (will send and flash the file. dont interupt it while the cmd window shows its writinging,and the green status bar is moving on the phone screen)
*sometimes a file will fail with a pre-update error. this is normal,just enter again:
fastboot flash zip zipfilename.zip
and this time it will finish
-when you get "finished" and "OK"
fastboot reboot-bootloader (takes you back to fastboot)
-reboot back to the OS
fastbooot reboot
you can use this if you dont have an operational phone as well. you just need to manually put the phone in fastboot(select from hboot menu) then skip the "adb" commands and start with fastboot devices
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3) install a rom or root access
this is a simple matter of using recovery to either flash superuser,or flash a new rom. in either case,MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR STOCK UNROOTED ROM!
flash superuser just as you would a rom,after a cache/dalvik wipe. theres tons of info out there on using recovery,so im not going in to great detail on that here.
i dont have this device(well,i dont have the vzw version) so dont ask me whats the best rom to flash. browse the development and original development sections and pick a couple out to try.
if you wish to just run rooted stock,i perosnally prefer superSU to other versions of superuser. you can download it from this thread
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
optional:
if you sent in your phone with a custom recovery installed,and it still is displaying the tampered banner,see this thread to remove it:
*link provided when available
if you want to lock,or unlock your bootloader without messing with htcdev,see this thread for those directions:
*link provided when available
if you want to restore your supermid from 0P6B2**** back to stock ,see this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=51677666
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
*work in progress. there will likely be some revisions,but i wanted to get something up for the folks whose devices are coming back
I'm serious considering doing this, if only just so I can have full root. I understand that there won't be any developer support or roms until someone achieves a software exploit. But it would be nice to be able to flash full root.
One question though: I don't have much experience with HTC devices as I always used Samsung before but I'm tired of their locked bootloaders. Basically my question is, one method of s-off is as good as another right? S-off is s-off? And it won't effect my ability to get s-on again? Or use other people's methods for recovery/root and s-off/s-on right?
nicholi2789 said:
I'm serious considering doing this, if only just so I can have full root. I understand that there won't be any developer support or roms until someone achieves a software exploit. But it would be nice to be able to flash full root.
One question though: I don't have much experience with HTC devices as I always used Samsung before but I'm tired of their locked bootloaders. Basically my question is, one method of s-off is as good as another right? S-off is s-off? And it won't effect my ability to get s-on again? Or use other people's methods for recovery/root and s-off/s-on right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you are S-Off u are S-Off unless you really screw something up but I have NEVER had any issues and I have owned 4 HTC devices with S-Off via exploits. S-Off is where it's at! Period Will have mine early next week with a Java S-Off... :good: And, we will have a recovery soon enough for our variant so it's just a matter of time before you can flash full root from recovery and then you are good to go. We probably won't see much development until enough people or devs get S-Off or unlocked bootloader. Time will tell but it WILL happen.
shojus said:
Once you are S-Off u are S-Off unless you really screw something up but I have NEVER had any issues and I have owned 4 HTC devices with S-Off via exploits. S-Off is where it's at! Period Will have mine early next week with a Java S-Off... :good: And, we will have a recovery soon enough for our variant so it's just a matter of time before you can flash full root from recovery and then you are good to go. We probably won't see much development until enough people or devs get S-Off or unlocked bootloader. Time will tell but it WILL happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response. Yeah I've been reading up on S-OFF and all the things you can do to HTC devices since before I got the M8 and still had my S4. I just haven't done any of it yet. It really seems like S-OFF is the only way to go if you want to have complete device freedom. Never had to have anything special to flash radios on Sammy devices. Anyways, yeah I have full faith that we will get S-OFF via an exploit sooner or later. That's why I chose the M8. Because in the past, no matter what, HTC devices always have bootloader exploits it seems like, or at least some development.
This thread is on zero tolerance as of now and will be closed permanently with the next breach of forum rules.
NotATreoFan said:
This thread is on zero tolerance as of now and will be closed permanently with the next breach of forum rules.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
shojus said:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think they dont want a name given
it also might be the grey market that java cards are. 1/2 this FAQ is not factual, but what do I know? *wink*
dr_drache said:
it also might be the grey market that java cards are. 1/2 this FAQ is not factual, but what do I know? *wink*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is not factual? I'd be happy to correct anything that is not.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk
scotty1223 said:
What is not factual? I'd be happy to correct anything that is not.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, not to go too deep, javacards at the price you posted, are clones of real ones, sold on the grey market. not necessarily legal, using NDA covered files.
dr_drache said:
well, not to go too deep, javacards at the price you posted, are clones of real ones, sold on the grey market. not necessarily legal, using NDA covered files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That number was for a small credit card from the UK. It was supposed to be legit, but I obviously can't prove or verify it.
Thanks for the info
For the record, my main intention is to provide info about the mechanics. Not really trying provide cost or purchase info
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk
scotty1223 said:
That number was for a small credit card from the UK. It was supposed to be legit, but I obviously can't prove or verify it.
Thanks for the info
For the record, my main intention is to provide info about the mechanics. Not really trying provide cost or purchase info
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, how do I know if my phone was S-Off'd via a java card or Firewater? What is the difference? TIA
shojus said:
So, how do I know if my phone was S-Off'd via a java card or Firewater? What is the difference? TIA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it comes back supercid and supermid,then it was s offed via the java card. If cid and mid are correct you have no way of knowing for sure,since the cid and mid are easily restored
Sent from my HTC PG09410 using Tapatalk 2
scotty1223 said:
If it comes back supercid and supermid,then it was s offed via the java card. If cid and mid are correct you have no way of knowing for sure,since the cid and mid are easily restored
Sent from my HTC PG09410 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure but from pics I seen of exploit don't it throw the tampered flag? As last time I used java card that was not the case
I know that can be restored. I'm guessing he restored cid mid because there were people complaining that he should change this back if you use his services. Just a total guess
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
scotty1223 said:
If it comes back supercid and supermid,then it was s offed via the java card. If cid and mid are correct you have no way of knowing for sure,since the cid and mid are easily restored
Sent from my HTC PG09410 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's my dilemma here... Mine came back yesterday with cid and mid correct.
Tigerstown said:
I'm not sure but from pics I seen of exploit don't it throw the tampered flag? As last time I used java card that was not the case
I know that can be restored. I'm guessing he restored cid mid because there were people complaining that he should change this back if you use his services. Just a total guess
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the java card will not throw the tampered flag. the exploit... i dont think so,but im not 100% sure.
shojus said:
That's my dilemma here... Mine came back yesterday with cid and mid correct and I am a tad skeptical.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would assume that he corrected the cid and mid in order to provide better service. sorry i cant think of any other ways to know for sure.
Me either but I will discuss this elsewhere . Thanks
scotty1223 said:
i would assume that he corrected the cid and mid in order to provide better service. sorry i cant think of any other ways to know for sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is what he said to me he did.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

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