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[Q] Import locked MT4GS (?)

Hi there friends!
I'm live in Germany and the MT4GS is my favorite Android phone to date (have a HTC Dream right now ) and found a very good ebay deal, however I will purchase a locked device. (The MT4GS is not available for purchase in Germany)
So what exactly is the worst thing to happen when I receive it in Germany? Will it just say "enter code, because your not in the statez!" and do nothing? Or will everything work, it just won't accept my SIM-Card or not connect to the network?
I'm going to then get root and s-off if I need and try the kindly posted methods by you great guys for unlocking a rooted device. Feedback if someone successfully did it would be great, but of course I can have a look at the threads too.
Is there any other thing I might run into? Did I overlook something? It'll probably be difficult to return it if things don't work out.
Thanks so much for feedback and help!
Unrelashade

if you actually put a sim card in and start it up, it'll ask for an unlock code and you won't be able to do anything else (except make an emergency call of course). if you boot it with no sim card it'll work fine with no cell connection.
you can root it and do the trick to get the unlock code, all without inserting a SIM, then shut it down, insert a SIM card, and enter the unlock code to unlock it. I did that, it worked fine. Had to mess about a little bit with shuttling apk's onto an SD card to get the necessary tools to do the rooting installed, but it wasn't too tricky. Took me an hour or so. I wouldn't expect you'll have too much trouble.

What Adam said.
Just get S-OFF and use one of the SIM unlocking methods provided on the forum.
Expect to pay high taxes though...

Thank you guys! So happy you are here for us )
Yeah I know, taxes. But it's still freakin' cheap for a new dualcore phone. With qwerty. yay. Thanks for the warning!
Which method did you use to unlock?
Will come back here if any problems will occur.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=16932841&postcount=1
Sent from my RubiX NonSense FINAL using Tapatalk

The one that's linked from the sticky. I advise installing the 'bad' CWM though, contrary to what the guide says, because the manual flash method is a bit of a pain, and now ROM Manager supports our phone, it's trivial to update to a fixed CWM via rom manager after rooting.

Ok, thank you again!
I just noticed, some websites say the MT4GS comes with Android 2.3 preinstalled. If they already put the new firmware on it before shipping then I'll have no chance of rooting and s-off'ing as of now, right? It's probably a mistake because it's upgradable... but still wanted to ask you guys.

shadow, do you know what taxes exactly? Will I have to pay "Mehrwertsteuer"/ sales tax/ added value tax as well as "Zoll"/ tarif tax? And how much % for the latter?
Reply would be most helpful

Unrelashade said:
Ok, thank you again!
I just noticed, some websites say the MT4GS comes with Android 2.3 preinstalled. If they already put the new firmware on it before shipping then I'll have no chance of rooting and s-off'ing as of now, right? It's probably a mistake because it's upgradable... but still wanted to ask you guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
correct, atleast until a new exploit is found or htc fixes its bootloader unlocking procedure

Yeah, if you get one with new firmware you're SOL. Maybe buy an actual second hnad one and check with the seller they didn't do the OTA update.

[Q] Can I root my device if I have the latest OTA update?

HTC One M8 on Verizon. Android version 5.0.1. I did a lot of research yesterday, and could not find any working solution to root the phone. It's hard to find anything on Google because generally the information will be outdated (from last year or the year before). So can someone fill me in on what exactly I'd need to do? This is my first smartphone and I've never rooted an Android device before.

ziddy5 said:
HTC One M8 on Verizon. Android version 5.0.1. I did a lot of research yesterday, and could not find any working solution to root the phone. It's hard to find anything on Google because generally the information will be outdated (from last year or the year before). So can someone fill me in on what exactly I'd need to do? This is my first smartphone and I've never rooted an Android device before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming you are still S-On and locked then you are stuck without root for now.

BladeRunner said:
Assuming you are still S-On and locked then you are stuck without root for now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I was afraid of. How can I keep track of when there is an update to the situation?

ziddy5 said:
This is what I was afraid of. How can I keep track of when there is an update to the situation?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
keep checking these forums and/or follow @teamandIRC on twitter

Rooting the already updated HTC One M8
It's going to be difficult. I've been scouring the webs for weeks looking for the answer to that one. The Sunshine S-off didn't work for me. The only way I can find right now to do this requires finding somone that has purchaced the elusive "HTC java card" sometimes called the HTC S-off card. They can s-off your phone in a heartbeat. Wish I had one, I just can't see forking over 375.00 to get one.

So if your S-off there is a root method available ? I haven't found it if there is.
I'm running 5.0.1 Verizon S-off
Thanks in advance

jjmstang said:
So if your S-off there is a root method available ? I haven't found it if there is.
I'm running 5.0.1 Verizon S-off
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're already s-off then just install twrp and flash, reboot recovery and it should ask you if you want to install root

BladeRunner said:
If you're already s-off then just install twrp and flash, reboot recovery and it should ask you if you want to install root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems you have to be rooted to install TWRP........at least what found

You only have to be rooted to install it with their app. If you are s-off you can download it from their site and flash it with fastboot.

mpappas87 said:
You only have to be rooted to install it with their app. If you are s-off you can download it from their site and flash it with fastboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I followed this method and I have re-gained root
http://forum.xda-developers.com/ver...ow-to-root-ota-pc-s-off-t3048604#post59750567
Now I'm going to try and flash the Dragon ROM with Sense 7
Thanks again for the help

same boat ; old filmware?
just received this HTC One M8 thru verizon, lollipop 5.0.1 after day 2 OTA update. I've been rooting every device i've owned since 08. Busy with daily tasks I haven't had a chance to sit and try unlocking bootloader until this weekend. I hit a wall when HTCdev returned an error after entering the identifier token \(^~^)/ . I did some reading, couldn't find anything.
I'm coming from a xt912 I've pretty much squeezed all I can get out of it since I got that brand new. I put CM12 on that just recently this HTC makes that the moto seem primitive. After bricking that (moto)spyder a few times flashing bad zips or doing things out of sequence I've put it thru the ringer and used RSDlite to just start from scratch. I have also found these device can put up with a lot and still bounce back. Geeze, I have three years of continuous text and data backed up on SD, lol . Something I haven't tried and wonder, does anyone know, is there any old VZW filmware for this M8 maybe 4.4.2 and try un locking from that point or Does the token id stay the same no matter what filmware?

Htcdev won't work on our phone because it's blocked by Verizon. Also, it's not possible to downgrade firmware or the OS without having s-off. At this time there's no way to get s-off on lollipop so you're pretty much stuck where you're at until an exploit is found by someone. Sunshine works for anything up to 4.4.4 but it won't work on a Verizon phone that's running 5.0.1. About all you can do right now is wait to see if Jcase and Beaups come up with a way to make it work on a Verizon phone too. I know that's not what you want to hear but that's how it is at the moment.

benjdevel said:
I've been rooting every device i've owned since 08. weekend. I hit a wall
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, glad I didn't spend too much time trying to figure this out, never rooted a device before

Gotcha . ...Stupid vzw ? I glanced at a procedure to unlock SIM. Have no idea if that would help anything. Havent tried it. Ill have to keep a watch out for something. Really compaired to that spider this thing is like a ferrari. Not too much bloatware. Lollipop rocks and knowing Im up to date for the most part calms me a little. I still dont like the idea of not having complete control of my device. I've already received a few notification marketing related from verizon that i could not close unless i looked at it. I did notice control over saving things to my ext sd i do like. I am a student just getting into the ist world.wish there was something i could help with. 5 classes is killing me at the moment though. I did also try to install an imsi catcher apk updates version and it seemed like it ran fine. I could of swore that app needed root access. I could be wrong with the newest version though.

Joint Java Card?
Same boat (Verizon, htc one m8) . . . For some reason I was thinking Lollipop was the update which was still able to be handled by Weaksauce 2. So I accepted the OTA, without thinking. -hadn't gotten around to s-off, etc., before this time around.
So, in some 2013 posts, I saw that some people had tried to pool resources and share a Java Card, etc. But sending phones to a "card keeper", is expensive, and unsafe (besides having to live without your phone for a few days.). jcase, on their company's IRC support channel, indicates that the card is more than just a simple microSD card, which one might be able to dd a filesystem image from (i.e. copy it for distribution). That's entirely possible, since all SD cards have micro-controllers for dealing with failed sectors, etc (check out "Bunnie's Blog"). Basically, the controller could make it tough/impossible to access part of the card, and can take care of decrimenting credits, encryption, signing, etc. Even if it were a basic SD card, the use of signed binaries, and external license/resource server, etc. could still make it tough . . . -although the card I found states it needs no internet connection. It would be much cheaper to send the card, rather than phones. But how to coordinate and pool the cost seems like it could be a pain?
So here's what I'm thinking about:
Someone (me?) could purchase a legit, new htc Java Card. After I use my 2 or 3 credits to s-off/unlock my phone, I could put the card on, say, ebay for maybe $5 less than what I bought it for. Then, another person could use some credits, then sell it again, for a little cheaper, etc. If we want to keep it "in-house", we could just send to each other and pay with PayPal or Google Wallet. But, with e-bay, one could just copy/build on the ad the first person started. Take a picture of your phone's screen, when the remaining credits are shown, and put it on the ad. With 2000 credits, my conservative estimate is that it could cost less than 72 cents, for each unlock. The $5 incremental discount might be close enough to cover re-shipping costs.
The Sunshine guys have, for free, helped many of us over the years. So I was planning to purchase their solution, if it worked for this situation. But their download page states that "Verizon 5.0.x users will have to wait until we update.". They indicate they could get us supported soon, but they also indicate that Lollipop is much more secure, with SELinux updated and better enforced., etc. So I am a little concerned about when that will actually happen. I see they've been posting updates for Motorola, and making sure people are able to pay them via PayPal, etc. But nothing yet for Verizon 5.0.x.
Does anyone know/recall how long after the last android update, someone came up with a root exploit? I'm just trying to get a rough guesstimate about the minimum time people will have to wait this time. -then add time because Lollipop is apparently significantly more secure. I guess I don't completely mind that my phone might be secure enough to not make it tougher for someone to get into the deepest parts of it, without specialized hardware (Java Card), if I were to lose it.
But, really, what Verizon and htc and others have done to these devices . . . They are, essentially, specialized computers. It would be like if Dell or another computer manufacturer sold you a computer, without allowing you access to your administrator account (and no clear/easy way to boot from another drive, to recover/fix things, etc.). That's crap.
I dunno. What do people think? I suppose I could just try it, and see.

Are new devices updated already? If I were to get a phone from verizon today will it already have the Lollipop update or would I get a still root-able device that I can deny the update?

libredroid said:
But, really, what Verizon and htc and others have done to these devices . . . They are, essentially, specialized computers. It would be like if Dell or another computer manufacturer sold you a computer, without allowing you access to your administrator account (and no clear/easy way to boot from another drive, to recover/fix things, etc.). That's crap.
I dunno. What do people think? I suppose I could just try it, and see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the idea of that Java card:good: and I completely agree with you on how wrong it is restricting administrative rights, especially considering these things are comparable to a new computer.

dimsumx said:
Are new devices updated already? If I were to get a phone from verizon today will it already have the Lollipop update or would I get a still root-able device that I can deny the update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No guarantees either way.

What is the status on SunShine for our device?

I got the Java Card.
@vazersecurity: still "Verizon 5.0.x users will have to wait until we update.", as of today.
I got the card, as previously proposed, and was able to get S-Off on my USA-Verizon HTC One M8 with the Lollipop OTA.
I needed to download and place two files in the root of the card (now done).
I then (CID changed) was able to use htcdev.com to unlock my bootloader, and ultimately gain root. I'm now happily running a current Cyanogenmod ROM. To regain some functionality from my camera, etc., I installed the htc camera, HTC Gallery, and Zoe apps from the Play store.
So I've already created a listing for the card on eBay. I assume the forum rules won't allow me to post the link. But I, honestly, always intended to use that as a way to make it more convenient to share with a community of people who wish to join in. -not to try and make any money off the card. Again, rather than have people ship phones to one person (with the shipping cost, and being without their phone), if figured it would be cheaper, and less disruptive, to ship the actual card. So, you'd purchase the card from the previous user, then re-list it for a bit less than what you paid for it. With the starting cost and credits, S-Off is about 30 cents, each. As the card credits get used up, it gets cheaper. Maybe each person would end up paying a few dollars for S-Off, when you factor in the shipping.
Maybe a moderator could chime in about whether it might be OK to post a link to this "community-intended" listing. -or suggest a better contribution/distribution method.
Also, since many users in our situations have been out of luck regarding S-Off, for a few months now, might a moderator or someone suggest/implement a way to post/place this information more prominently, in the forums?
Thanks.

How to tell the difference between Verizon Pixel 2 and the rootable one from google?

I am looking to purchase the google pixel 2 and want to make sure i get the one from google that has the unlocked bootloader. I know i can get on google play and buy it for 649 plus tax but would prefer to purchase the same tjing brand new on ebay for less than 600 no tax. Only issue is i dont know of a definitive way to tell the difference and most sellers just say they are both unlocked and dont seem to know that there is a difference. I cant really tell that there is a different model number or anything and am unsure if the verizon one comes with verizon apps right away or not, so if anyone knows a way to tell a difference it would be appreciated.:good:

Can simply ask where they got the phone from and tell them you want the google version. You can always return it if they claim its google version but you get verizon version. Thats part of ebay buyer protection

I've got the Verizon one on bestbuy by mistake and I thought I was locked out of root, but another user posted a way to unlock the bootloader and I've got mine now rooted and everything, so don't worry on that. (unless they fixed that, of course)

DarkShadowMX said:
I've got the Verizon one on bestbuy by mistake and I thought I was locked out of root, but another user posted a way to unlock the bootloader and I've got mine now rooted and everything, so don't worry on that. (unless they fixed that, of course)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They fixed it with last months update.

Oh, I didn't know. My bad.

con4n007 said:
Can simply ask where they got the phone from and tell them you want the google version. You can always return it if they claim its google version but you get verizon version. Thats part of ebay buyer protection
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the return advice. I, have been asking many sellers already. alot either dont get to the message or seem to avoid it cause they dont know. Ill keep lpoking though.

I'd use swappa instead of eBay.

Be careful on eBay - it may be cheaper, but it may come with a warranty that's not in effect where you are. Go for the extra few bucks and buy it on Google, then you know what you're getting, and it's under warranty by Google. (Mine comes on Monday - from Google. Unfortunately the 2 doesn't come in blue in 128GB, but I can live with black.)

Could the bootloader be unlockable after the Oreo update?

I talked to Samsung for about an hour about why the bootloader is locked for the US versions of the S7.( I have a SM-G930R4) Most of the time they gave me the run around but I was able to find out that with the Oreo update ,it may be possible to lock/unlock the bootloader. They didn't come right out and say it but that's what it sounded like to me. They were saying something about a "security issue" that is supposed to be fixed in Oreo,and that it's within the realm of possibilities. Let's hope they weren't trying to make me feel better,lol. I haven't had a nice phone since 2013,and I was pretty nonplussed to find out we got shafted. I have been using Samsung phones since the original Google Nexus,and have flashed/rooted/customized every single one of them. Customization is important to a lot of people,and Samsung understands this. Why'd they have to give in this time? ><

Highly unlikely
Samsung talk out of their rears when you contact them, usually just to get you to go away I find

Well that's corporations in general right? Lol. I don't want to get another phone if I don't have to. I rather like this one. I guess we'll find out in the coming weeks ,eh?
I have a screenshot of part of the conversation,but it seems like I can't post the link or embed it. Basically it was them feeding me a line of garbage about none of their USA model phones having unlockable bootloaders,and I corrected them. They also said that it was Qualcomm's fault but I can't see how. Don't they use their own bootloaders?

I guess I could always try to trade my S7 for a S6 lol.

I don't know the details of why they are locked or who's fault it is, but they're right that none of the USA S7s have unlocked bootloaders (Snapdragon Models)
It's the Exynos International S7s that are unlocked (G930F, G930W8)
Samsung will have the bootloader encryption key, so they could have added a feature to unlock it like they did with the Exynos versions, no idea why they haven't
If you want an unlocked S7 I'd sell that one and get the G930F

They didn't say it would never be unlocked. What I got from the exchange was that it may happen during the next OTA,which I assume is Oreo,or a patch of sorts thereafter. The particular lady I was speaking to implied it was Qualcomm's fault,but I find that hard to believe. I brought up the fact that we're being singled out (for whatever reason) and that customization is quite important to a lot of us.She said "Yes I agree,if you buy a phone it should be yours" So hopefully they do the right thing. I can't very well just sell this phone ,however. It holds sentimental value and was a gift from someone very dear to me.So my only option is ,A) Pray Sammie does right by us,or B) wait until someone hacks it(if it's even possible)
Also from what I've been told and what I've read on multiple forums(XDADev included) our phone carriers pressured Samsung to do it,to cut down on people bricking their phones. From my experience it's pretty hard to completely brick a Samsung. As long as you can get into download mode and flash something via Odin or backup from recovery,it's all good.

I'm running oreo. But soon all carriers will now lock bootloaders latest sprint and Verizon starting , to make it it so no one can change carriers

Not to stir up an old thread, but oreo just rolled out for the sm-g930p yesterday and I noticed that there is the option for OEM unlock. Good news for finally unlocking the bootloader?

whbisondtr said:
Not to stir up an old thread, but oreo just rolled out for the sm-g930p yesterday and I noticed that there is the option for OEM unlock. Good news for finally unlocking the bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No.. That's not what that feature is for. It's in Nougat as well under development options

InsanePostman said:
No.. That's not what that feature is for. It's in Nougat as well under development options
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gotcha. I didn't have it on here with nougat though, it didn't show up until I got the oreo update. From what I've read around, that's what it was for.

whbisondtr said:
From what I've read around, that's what it was for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Random thought...Maybe when the Oreo U firmware comes out flashing the BL will work?

SprintBama said:
Random thought...Maybe when the Oreo U firmware comes out flashing the BL will work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I talked to Samsung about it they hinted that would be the case. They didn't confirm or deny it directly,but the way they put it sure alluded to something of the sort.

lets pray ))

Yea so anyway still locked and I honestly don't even need root. I'll just use the unlocked firmware and disable bloat. Rooting the s7 seems arbitrary at this point. If I wanted to I would just trade my s7 USA varient for an international varient if I was really that adamant. S7's are pretty cheap now with the s8 and s9 out on the market.
I have an unlocked phone and the only thing unlocked is the carrier or sim, nothing to do with the bootloader unless you all are suggesting that after the full release of Oreo on all the s7 devices that they may rethink locked bootloader. By then I'll probably just get a new phone. I've lost interest in rooting the s7 but that's probably because there's only three ways around it. Rooting Android 6, rooting earlier versions of Android 7 or getting the xynos s7. I love Oreo more than root on this phone.

2020 love for XA

Hi all, as I have some extra time, as may others too due to covid I thought I'd work on this phone.
Had it about 2 months as a pass down and want to give it to a family member, but like to clean it up and install a custom/debloated rom, like I do with all my personal phones and add some privacy
It's a nice phone, quite snappy for basic use but will require a new LCD, which is only £20.
Looking at the guides, I ran into a problem straight away, Bootloader cannot be unlocked, oh damn!
it's a EE (UK) branded phone.
As it's now 2020, has any exploit been found to atleast root it?
I've searched through forums and web, not much direction on it.
Rather not use the stock rom, unless I can debloat it. Shame tbh, it's a decent phone to let go.
Would a pre-rooted stock rom work?
Thank ahead

bump

Anybody, please? thx

Hi, as I did not get any replies to my issue. I continued to search and found a workable solution. Perhaps not full root per se, but it allowed me enough root privileges without unlocking bootloader, so I could delete all the Sony bloatware and some additional tweaks. I thought I'd post here for future reference for others.
First I found this :
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=82081703&postcount=1000
Then additionally this, which made it much simpler.
https://github.com/JunioJsv/mtk-easy-su
Hope it helps

davestuarts said:
Looking at the guides, I ran into a problem straight away, Bootloader cannot be unlocked, oh damn!
it's a EE (UK) branded phone.
As it's now 2020, has any exploit been found to atleast root it?
I've searched through forums and web, not much direction on it.
Thank ahead
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only just seen your post and it seems you found mtk-su to get you going. :good:
I am curious about the bootloader though.
1. Did you try the official Sony bootloader unlocking procedure ? If you did at what part did it fail.
Normally it's just a SIM/Network lock that EE and other providers have so removing that may then allow the bootloader to be unlocked as I can't really see any difference in the firmware's except a few pre installed app's.
EE charge £8.99 for the SIM unlock code on second hand phones According EE's Help HERE If nothing else it will make it more usable and saleable.
I have a stock based ROM that's got most of junk removed and I replaced the dialer, contacts, launcher and other apps with Googles own apps If you do manage unlock the bootloader.
Forum Tip:
If you want to get someone's attention you can "mention" them or use the reply button so they will get a notification
Mention is @ with the name like this.
Code:
@bigrammy or @davestuarts
.