S-Off Pros/Cons - HTC One S

I am a new htc user, however not new to rooting and flashing. I have just recently considered rooting my One S but am not sure if I should just unlock the bootloader or wait for S-off. So my question is simply what are the cons of just unlocking the bootloader now and rooting or would it be better to wait for S-off and root then? Also, if I were to root now, what roms do you recommend?

S-OFF efforts are REALLY slow and it seems no serious attempts are going after it at the moment..
I'd imagine the only disadvantage of using HTC's current bootloader unlocking is that they know you did it and it could void some/all of your warranty. Of course, you also don't have full access to the ROM/HBOOT but you could still flash many things.. You also get a flagged device ("Tampered") if you flash anything which can only be removed with S-OFF AFAIK..
As for ROMs, there are plenty at the Dev section.. I tried a handful and most are good with varying degrees of stability. I am currently on TrickDroid since it is Sense based + extras.. Paranoid Android is my favorite CM-based and pretty stable overall.. AOKP is also good.. Haven't tried MIUI..
Really, it's up to you.. What do you prefer.. Just make sure you have a nandroid backup of your stock rom so you could revert back.

Pheroh said:
S-OFF efforts are REALLY slow and it seems no serious attempts are going after it at the moment..
I'd imagine the only disadvantage of using HTC's current bootloader unlocking is that they know you did it and it could void some/all of your warranty. Of course, you also don't have full access to the ROM/HBOOT but you could still flash many things.. You also get a flagged device ("Tampered") if you flash anything which can only be removed with S-OFF AFAIK..
As for ROMs, there are plenty at the Dev section.. I tried a handful and most are good with varying degrees of stability. I am currently on TrickDroid since it is Sense based + extras.. Paranoid Android is my favorite CM-based and pretty stable overall.. AOKP is also good.. Haven't tried MIUI..
Really, it's up to you.. What do you prefer.. Just make sure you have a nandroid backup of your stock rom so you could revert back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, contrary to what I've also heard here in several threads, returning to stock with the proper RUU (or even nandroid, however that works?) doesn't truly revert the device back to stock in the way that you retain full warranty? That actually is quite the roadblock for me to get a Jelly Bean ROM soon. That is, if HTC doesn't provide an update soon enough, which we all know is probably the case.

I forgot about RUU but I don't claim that I know if it removes the tampered flag or not.
Some people say that if you relock your bootloader you are good but I don't have any personal experience with HTC service with this regard.
Sent from my HTC One S

Pheroh said:
I forgot about RUU but I don't claim that I know if it removes the tampered flag or not.
Some people say that if you relock your bootloader you are good but I don't have any personal experience with HTC service with this regard.
Sent from my HTC One S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if you re lock the bootloader they can see it was tampered with. If you boot into the bootloader you'll see at the top it says tampered.
I wouldn't hold my breath for s- off. If you unlock and root your phone and then install TWRP you can just flash roms as though you do have s- off. TWRP will flash the boot.img. That way you don't need to hook your phone up to your pc and fastboot the boot.img. It's awesome Cuz you can just flash on the fly.
Sent from my HTC One S on Axiom S

Okay wel thank you for the help. Will this affect any updates that are put out by HTC or if I unlock the bootloader is there something I can do to revert back? And it sounds like there a couple different ways to unlock and root, what is the best way to go about it? Gosh rooting and flashing roms on the vibrant was significantly more simple
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2

cmrn89 said:
Okay wel thank you for the help. Will this affect any updates that are put out by HTC or if I unlock the bootloader is there something I can do to revert back? And it sounds like there a couple different ways to unlock and root, what is the best way to go about it? Gosh rooting and flashing roms on the vibrant was significantly more simple
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear that you cannot OTA update stock ROMs after flashing a custom recovery unless you re-install stock recovery and relock your device.. It's a long process.. of course the important part to update is the radio and you could do it without going through all of that but you risk a permanent brick if something goes wrong..
As for the easiest way for rooting, check the all-in-one thread in dev forum.. I unlocked, rooted, and flashed recovery of mine using that application.. pretty noob friendly

Related

[q] I Rooting, Modding.

Today, I Unlocked the Bootloader with the Unlock from HTC, but it still says S-ON.
Will I still be able to root and flash rooms with the TUTs posted in the Development Section?
Or will there be an Alternate method.
If it still says s-on perhaps you should re try the HTC unlocking process until it says s-off
Swyped from HTC Desire S using XDA Premium
Why would you use the htc method. It saves your serial number and it voids your warranty. If you use revolutions you can always go back to s on and tmo will never know the difference.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium
Daveon93 said:
Today, I Unlocked the Bootloader with the Unlock from HTC, but it still says S-ON.
Will I still be able to root and flash rooms with the TUTs posted in the Development Section?
Or will there be an Alternate method.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From the all the gossip flying around the word is you may be able to get CWM installed but no custom roms yet, seems HTC provided an Unlock for developers and will provide S-off at later date.
Just go here http://revolutionary.io/
and follow the instructions.
Yeah if you've unlocked using HTC unlock bootloader then you can't get S-OFF and flash custom roms. You can achieve root and flash a modified version of the stock rom.
This link will help explain it better:
http://www.androidcentral.com/how-unlocked-htcs-bootloader-unlocking-method
I feel that since you have already unlocked with HTC you've officially voided your warranty. It is probably best to just to revolutionary.io and unlock using the revolutionary process that way you can get S-OFF and start flashing custom roms. It would have probably been better to use revolutionary in the first place that way you could have S-ONed your phone if you ever needed to use the warranty later but it won't make much of a difference now.
Well, thanks guys, but I can lock it back on the HTC way, I wasnt aware that it voided warranty.
It's okay.
It gives me the Option to lock the bootloader, but I'm unaware that it'd bring the warranty back.
But Should I still just use revo to get S-OFF?
Yes, you should just use the revolutionary method. Much less time consuming. Give them your serial, they give you a code, they send Caroline in, and then you're good.
I'm not sure if the Sensation is any different, but I unlocked a Evo3d the other day using the HTC method.
The h-boot will not say s-off, but it will say *** unlocked ***.
CWM can be flashed.
Custom roms can be flashed, loaded Synergy nightly on there.
The only reason the Evo3d had to go that route was because the latest OTA was accepted before I had a chance to get revo on there. Anyhow, it was actually pretty pain free and I can't imagine the Sensation being any different.
I'd imagine you just use the fastboot flash command to flash CWM but, as already said, you should've just used Revolutionary
EddyOS said:
I'd imagine you just use the fastboot flash command to flash CWM but, as already said, you should've just used Revolutionary
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, fastboot flash recovery recovery_of_your_choice.img.

[Q] cant s off (hboot 1.27)can i root?

Hi all
I was hoping to change the rom on my sensation running (OTA) ICS with Hboot 1.27.00 but failed at the first hurdle of S Off.
obviously after searching i realise that i cant S Off at the moment so have decided to hard reset my phone ( it had a few issues)
when i first got the phone i temp rooted it and then used bloat freezer to get rid of the bloatware.
Since i have a bit of a wait for a S off method is it possible to root it or any other way to get rid of the bloatware?
thanks
stringman said:
Hi all
I was hoping to change the rom on my sensation running (OTA) ICS with Hboot 1.27.00 but failed at the first hurdle of S Off.
obviously after searching i realise that i cant S Off at the moment so have decided to hard reset my phone ( it had a few issues)
when i first got the phone i temp rooted it and then used bloat freezer to get rid of the bloatware.
Since i have a bit of a wait for a S off method is it possible to root it or any other way to get rid of the bloatware?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SOFF on HBOOT 1.27 possible now...
check this thread
SOFF juopunutbear
need to try this multiple times...got released yesterday only
Thanks for that
but am i correct in thinking that you have to root first with the htc dev method?
stringman said:
Thanks for that
but am i correct in thinking that you have to root first with the htc dev method?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ohh yeah...it seems requirement is HTCdev unlocked bootloader and root to device....so you need to get a recovery for that...
do the HTCdev unlock
and then try to flash 4EXT recovery from this thread (try the latest one 1.0.0.5 RC2)
4EXT recovery
its an app...just install the app onto your device and then install it
if it fails...then flash recovery using this image
dropbox link
keep the recovery image in your adb folder ,then go to fastboot mode and flash the recovery
command to flash "fastboot flash recovery recovery.img"
once you got recovery you need to follow step 3 of this guide to get root...
then follow the steps in SOFF thread
thanks guys
wish i hadnt had the ota update now!!!
seems its now much more complicated.
when i have a few hours ( maybe a day since im such a noob) i will git it all a go
or maybe wait for the revolutionary to become available
thanks
stringman said:
thanks guys
wish i hadnt had the ota update now!!!
seems its now much more complicated.
when i have a few hours ( maybe a day since im such a noob) i will git it all a go
or maybe wait for the revolutionary to become available
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could try Unlimited or read more about it here.
HTCDev unlock is all you need for root and custom ROMs, if you don't like the look of S-OFF, you don't need it.
Im kinda new in sensation bought it 2 weeks ago so please dont blame me for asking All I want to know is what kind of benefits is giving us s-off if we still can install custom roms with same firmware as official ICS? I read here on xda that it unlocks some commnads but no-one said which one exactly :/ Since most of the roms are on newest firmware (official one) it looks like it has almost no sense to do s-off if u dont want go back to ginger roms am I right?
sab3r
i was thinking the same
what i would like to do with my phone is to get a stable custom rom that gives me sense 3.6 ICS and the overclocking to the xe spec.
I know the best option is ARHD and if s off is of no use to me then i guess i could go the htc dev route. its just having decided to hard reset the phone and realising the complete faff i dont want to mess around too much.
sab3r said:
Im kinda new in sensation bought it 2 weeks ago so please dont blame me for asking All I want to know is what kind of benefits is giving us s-off if we still can install custom roms with same firmware as official ICS? I read here on xda that it unlocks some commnads but no-one said which one exactly :/ Since most of the roms are on newest firmware (official one) it looks like it has almost no sense to do s-off if u dont want go back to ginger roms am I right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
s-off gives you the benefit of changing recovery , almost stable sense 4 ROMS, blazing fast AOSP roms, and awesomely great kernels...ohh i forgot the best of all MODS ...so its your call...but seeing you did ICS update OTA you can't SOFF now through revolutionary
in my case...i just got Sensation..but im enjoying Beats...4x improved camera and video (the video quality with the MOD is godly now...compared to ****ty stock compressed video)...also i got a MOD which can enable beats over speaker....i got DOLBY mobile (sound app) of xperia...beats + dolby mobile is awesomely great for music lovers....and if you dig further...you'll have hella lot of oppurtunities
stringman said:
sab3r
i was thinking the same
what i would like to do with my phone is to get a stable custom rom that gives me sense 3.6 ICS and the overclocking to the xe spec.
I know the best option is ARHD and if s off is of no use to me then i guess i could go the htc dev route. its just having decided to hard reset the phone and realising the complete faff i dont want to mess around too much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you got a chance to soff..then i recommend you to do it...whatever you are doing right now can be achieved via HTCdev route but its bit complicated to get everything working...so your call
btw SOFF on 1.27 is possible now but for that you need to have HTCdev Unlocked bootloader (may void your warranty)
here is the thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=25202517
ganeshp said:
s-off gives you the benefit of changing recovery , almost stable sense 4 ROMS, blazing fast AOSP roms, and awesomely great kernels...ohh i forgot the best of all MODS ...so its your call...but seeing you did ICS update OTA you can't SOFF now through revolutionary
in my case...i just got Sensation..but im enjoying Beats...4x improved camera and video (the video quality with the MOD is godly now...compared to ****ty stock compressed video)...also i got a MOD which can enable beats over speaker....i got DOLBY mobile (sound app) of xperia...beats + dolby mobile is awesomely great for music lovers....and if you dig further...you'll have hella lot of oppurtunities
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree but as some tutorial said you can install recovery and root without s off all u need is just htcdev unlock so going forward you can install every android 4.0 rom The problem is that the version of firmware has to be 3.32.xxx.x (ICS update OTA) but as for as I know most of the 4.0 roms needs that anyway :]
sab3r said:
I agree but as some tutorial said you can install recovery and root without s off all u need is just htcdev unlock so going forward you can install every android 4.0 rom The problem is that the version of firmware has to be 3.32.xxx.x (ICS update OTA) but as for as I know most of the 4.0 roms needs that anyway :]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah you are right but when firmware gets updated... It's a problem again... Also not all people got ICS.. For them soff is required... In your case yeah HTCdev unlock will do but at the cost of your warranty...
sent from my blazing fast pyramid through sonic waves
Ofc if they dont have ICS they can still use rev method and remember that the newest s off method still needs HTCdev unlock that means u lose warranty anyway :]

Unlocking with HTC Dev

Is there a difference in performance when you unlock your phone with or without HTC Dev? Or is the only negative thing about htcdev.com that you might lose your warranty and have to flash boot.img seperately?
Thanks.
No impact on performance
Sywepd form my DsereiS
I unlocked with htcdev, yeh I voided my warranty but hey ho. The fact that you have to flash the boot image separately has only really been a small niggle, having to be at the pc when changing Roms. But it forces you to look at the tools used more, I think I've learnt more doing it that way than just flashing Roms and backups from the sd card. I don't think it impacts on performance, for me just getting rid of sense was the biggest impact on performance.
sent from the thing I stab with my finger when I get two minutes
unlocking and s-off will however lose warranty but no impacts on performance
z3rve said:
unlocking and s-off will however lose warranty but no impacts on performance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, that's why it is wise to S-OFF without unlocking at htcdev.
The procedure is actually easier then flashing a custom ROM
Sent from my HTC Desire S
I would love to have my phone with s-off but unfortunately I'm running hboot version 2.xx.
Btw amida thanks for the kernel u posted, my phone is like on steroids
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda app-developers app
You could downgrade your hboot then install the eng hboot
sent from the thing I stab with my finger when I get two minutes
Since I am a beginner, the HTCDev unlocking method seemed easier and I was scared to brick my phone. But now I got some experience and I understand how does flashing works via the PC
lauvassirds said:
Since I am a beginner, the HTCDev unlocking method seemed easier and I was scared to brick my phone. But now I got some experience and I understand how does flashing works via the PC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly the reason I went down this route, I'm thinking of downgrading now as testing Roms and flashing boot img is getting to be a pain when I'm doing it a couple of times a day. Gonna have too look up the threads and read them till my eyes bleed again lol
sent from the thing I stab with my finger when I get two minutes

Some questions on root/unroot

Hi guys I have some questions on root/Unroot/S-off for HTC one s
I have had a evo3D (still do ) and dev a little to so here are my questions
1.Root
I looked at the all in one thread I saw to the Aio tool kit by hasoon200 and the standard root by torxx
my current stock setup
Htc vile not cs
Stock Ics sense 4.1
Hboot 1.40
Radio 1.08
And T-Mobil
2.Unroot
I have not seen one of these Unroot
Threads like in 3D land So how would o go about going from s-off back to s-on and have no super cid
Also I might sim unlock if I can but only if could go back
Thanks guys I hope to bring some of my development here to the one s
Any one?
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2
Rooting is pretty straight forward, doesn't take much effort. I prefer to do it through the console and not the AIO tool, no offense to the author. You can check my signature for the tutorial for rooting. As far as unrooting, CM 10 based roms as you may know have settings to restrict root access to ADB or apps, or both. I know in SuperSU, I think you can unroot, and also in SuperUser Elite as well if I'm not mistaken.
You can go from S-Off to S-On with this turtorial, and sim unlock with this one. According to this post sim unlock is persistent even after flashing new roms and factory resets. But now that we have S-Off, I imagine there has to be a way to relock the phone.
impostle said:
As far as unrooting, CM 10 based roms as you may know have settings to restrict root access to ADB or apps, or both. I know in SuperSU, I think you can unroot, and also in SuperUser Elite as well if I'm not mistaken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a way to relock bootloader
And back to stock from ruu or firmware zip
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2
Yeah, you can relock the bootloader with a fastboot command. An RUU will take you back to stock.
impostle said:
Yeah, you can relock the bootloader with a fastboot command. An RUU will take you back to stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for all the help going all the way s-off tonight and maybe start making some roms
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Return to as close to stock as possible

Hi all,
I have an AT&T One X. The bootloader is unlocked but is S-ON. I want to return this phone to as close as stock as possible. This phone is destined to go to another user who knows nothing of rooting and such so I don't care if it is rooted or not.
I understand I have to relock the bootloader to be able to flash an RUU right? Hboot is currently at 1.14.002, Radio is at 0.19as.32.09.11_2. TWRP 2.3.1.0 is installed.
The phone is currently running Cleanrom 6.5 and all works fine. I just want this back to as close to AT&T stock as possible so that the user I am giving the phone to will not have any problems.
If I relock the bootloader can I return this to stock via the most recent AT&T 3.18 RUU located here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2191477 or is there something else I need to do first?
Thanks for all your help.
Tersanyus said:
Hi all,
I have an AT&T One X. The bootloader is unlocked but is S-ON. I want to return this phone to as close as stock as possible. This phone is destined to go to another user who knows nothing of rooting and such so I don't care if it is rooted or not.
I understand I have to relock the bootloader to be able to flash an RUU right? Hboot is currently at 1.14.002, Radio is at 0.19as.32.09.11_2. TWRP 2.3.1.0 is installed.
The phone is currently running Cleanrom 6.5 and all works fine. I just want this back to as close to AT&T stock as possible so that the user I am giving the phone to will not have any problems.
If I relock the bootloader can I return this to stock via the most recent AT&T 3.18 RUU located here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2191477 or is there something else I need to do first?
Thanks for all your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll need to S-OFF first or you'll brick.
There's a howto on the original android development section.
exad said:
You'll need to S-OFF first or you'll brick.
There's a howto on the original android development section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just flash a stock rooted Rom. Most users won't even know it's rooted. And having a custom recovery (even if they don't know they have it) can help if there is ever an issue. S-off so in the future if there's a update it won't brick the phone.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
31ken31 said:
Just flash a stock rooted Rom. Most users won't even know it's rooted. And having a custom recovery (even if they don't know they have it) can help if there is ever an issue. S-off so in the future if there's a update it won't brick the phone.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, except for leaving it rooted. I would leave just the bootloader unlocked and S-OFF and RUU, this way the buyer doesn't get shocked or confused if an app asks for root access, but has the option to do whatever they want to their phone if they so decide.
exad said:
I agree, except for leaving it rooted. I would leave just the bootloader unlocked and S-OFF and RUU, this way the buyer doesn't get shocked or confused if an app asks for root access, but has the option to do whatever they want to their phone if they so decide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I forgot about su access prompt. That could be a shocker lol
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
exad said:
I would leave just the bootloader unlocked and S-OFF and RUU.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. Couple reasons (both related to RUU). If the new user for some reason needs to recover the phone, and runs the RUU (not unheard of, HTC support will sometimes direct customers to do this), that person will either:
1) Brick the phone, if its left as SuperCID and S-on
2) If S-on (but CID is changed back), and bootloader is left unlocked, the RUU won't run. The person will have no idea why, and will likely be stuck.
S-off solves both of these potential issues. If you are at all worried about the next user. I would S-off, then run the RUU to return the phone to stock. The only thing that would be "not stock" is unlocked bootloader and S-off. But neither of these will mean anything or affect a less experienced user.
I'm going to disagree with the above.
If this person knows nothing of rooting and doesn't care, you should give them a stock phone. Being s-off is a potential security risk that should only be taken by someone who a) knows about it, and b) knows what it means. If you're selling this phone, it's arguably deceptive to give them something with a lurking vulnerability.
iElvis said:
I'm going to disagree with the above.
If this person knows nothing of rooting and doesn't care, you should give them a stock phone. Being s-off is a potential security risk that should only be taken by someone who a) knows about it, and b) knows what it means. If you're selling this phone, it's arguably deceptive to give them something with a lurking vulnerability.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair point. Switching the phone back to the AT&T CID and locking the bootloader might be the best alternative. Then run the RUU to get it back on stock recovery and ROM.
Giving/selling the phone to an unsuspecting noob with SuperCID and S-on just seems like a bad idea. Worse than S-off.
iElvis said:
I'm going to disagree with the above.
If this person knows nothing of rooting and doesn't care, you should give them a stock phone. Being s-off is a potential security risk that should only be taken by someone who a) knows about it, and b) knows what it means. If you're selling this phone, it's arguably deceptive to give them something with a lurking vulnerability.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen bricks after RUUing, even after changing the CID back to default.. It's a toss up I guess. Typically, when I sell my phone or hacked device, I just sell it as being hacked this way people know what they are getting into. Advertising as such has never hindered my ability to sell it either.
redpoint73 said:
Fair point. Switching the phone back to the AT&T CID and locking the bootloader might be the best alternative. Then run the RUU to get it back on stock recovery and ROM.
Giving/selling the phone to an unsuspecting noob with SuperCID and S-on just seems like a bad idea. Worse than S-off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't mean leaving it supercid--that is obviously a risk.
exad said:
I've seen bricks after RUUing, even after changing the CID back to default.. It's a toss up I guess. Typically, when I sell my phone or hacked device, I just sell it as being hacked this way people know what they are getting into. Advertising as such has never hindered my ability to sell it either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's kind of my point. Selling it rooted is fine, just represent it for what it is. You shouldn't give a modified phone to someone who doesn't know what that even means.
The phone is going to a friend who has a Pantech Burst currently. As someone mentioned I didn't want them to get a SuperSU prompt for root access and have no idea what that means. I tried a stock rooted rom but it kept rebooting. I did factory reset/data wipe and reloaded the rom twice but still kept doing it. I thought it odd too. Cleamrom is acting just fine though.
After hard bricking a Droid DNA which I don't know if it was due to being unlocked and such I'm starting to feel rooting and custom roms isn't for me anymore. The Droid DNA was replaced and the replacement was never unlocked (and since it has most recent software it couldn't be unlocked. Don't get me wrong, I love not running stock devices. It's such a great feeling to get rid of all that carrier added bloat that I most liked.
I've actually moved on from the DNA as well. I'm on a One now from AT&T as my primary phone. And I so hate all that AT&T bloat in there. It's all disabled but still seeing it there just sends chills down my spine.
So now I am not so sure what to do about the One X now. My original thought was RUU back to factory and relock the bootloader and keep S-ON. That way if someone did look they'd only see "RELOCKED".
Makes me miss the easy days when I used a Captivate and Note 1. Those were so easy to use custom roms on.
iElvis said:
I didn't mean leaving it supercid--that is obviously a risk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your previous post didn't explicitly say anything about that, one way or another. So I was just clarifying for the benefit of the OP. I knew what you meant, but wanted to make sure the OP did, too!

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