Gold Card instead of eng hboot - G2 and Desire Z General

Hey Everyone,
I've bricked a phone beyond recovery once. It sucks. What happened? I didn't check md5's and ruined everything. That phone is long gone, and history now. I've learned my lessons.
Anyway, I noticed something that might remove a risky step from phone modification. I needed to root my OTA gingerbread DZ from Bell, which required a Gold Card.
Besides backing up and restoring the sd card contents, it's a pretty painless process to make a Gold Card for your phone.
After downgrading with the Gold Card, I asked myself "hey, I just flashed a PC10IMG.zip that wouldn't have passed the security checks...why can't I flash back my Bell radio via PC10IMG.zip now too, even though I have the stock hboot?"
The answer, I did. It worked
Summary: If you have a Gold Card, you should be able to flash any PC10IMG.zip that isn't corrupted, even on stock hboot.
Anyway, I know flashing a radio is also risky, but hey, if you don't need to flash eng hboot, you have seriously avoided doing probably the most dangerous modification to your phone.
Funny thing is that I've never heard of this and my searches brought up nothing. Maybe I'm just bad at searching.
Any thoughts on this that I may not be addressing?
Cheers!
NOTE: proceed with caution! I am not responsible for the bricking of your phone. Please let this discussion unfold a bit before assuming everything is safe!

After running gfree, it gives you Super-cid, which means you don't have to use a goldcard.
You can flash radio's on ship hboot as well, by using PC10IMG, and flashing it through hboot.
Goldcards are only neccessary when downgrading roms when trying to root.
Also, having an eng hboot is recommended, because you have a lot more control over the phone than normal, if you were to really break anything, but could still get to hboot, then the phone will be recoverable.
-Nipqer

Nipqer said:
After running gfree, it gives you Super-cid, which means you don't have to use a goldcard.
You can flash radio's on ship hboot as well, by using PC10IMG, and flashing it through hboot.
Goldcards are only neccessary when downgrading roms when trying to root.
Also, having an eng hboot is recommended, because you have a lot more control over the phone than normal, if you were to really break anything, but could still get to hboot, then the phone will be recoverable.
-Nipqer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aah, thank you. I thought it was required to have the eng hboot to flash radios. I knew there must be a reason why this isn't a big deal lol.
Sent from my Nexus 6 through tears in rain.

Related

Downgrading from DangerSPL?

Now that Firerat has figured out how to easily fit stuff on G1 and T-mobile MT3G phones without DangerSPL, I'm thinking of downgrading to the base engineering SPL. I have a few questions though, since I don't feel like bricking my phone.
First off, fastboot info:
SAPPHIRE PVT 32B
HBOOT - 1.33.2005 (Danger, I believe)
Radio - 2.22.23.02
First off, where would I find a non-danger engineering SPL? Are the SPL's in this thread the ones I should be looking for? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=529019
Also, are there any benefits of sticking with Danger SPL (other than extra 30 megs system) and since it's now easier to fit this stuff on non Danger, will there be more benefits in reverting back to the original Engineer SPL?
In addition, if I DO decide to flash back to a non-danger SPL, would I have to use recovery or fastboot? I'm assuming they'd be a match, but I'd like to do whichever way is more safe.
Edit: Oh crap, just noticed I posted this in the wrong section. I own a MT3G, but I installed danger way back when they first rooted it when following a tutorial. Should I be looking at a different engineering spl?
Sorry for all of the stupid questions.
DangerSPL is not required for the MT3G in the first place, so I'm not sure why you installed it in the first place.
From what I know, there is no downside to being on Danger, so I don see why downgrading to an engineering spl is necessary
If you do decide to do it, do it through recovery not fastboot
PurpleFries said:
DangerSPL is not required for the MT3G in the first place, so I'm not sure why you installed it in the first place.
From what I know, there is no downside to being on Danger, so I don see why downgrading to an engineering spl is necessary
If you do decide to do it, do it through recovery not fastboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You got it the wrong way bud.
Read the Brick confirmation thread by lbcoder.
flashing radios and recoveries (incompatible ones) through recovery is how bricks happen.
cal3thousand said:
You got it the wrong way bud.
Read the Brick confirmation thread by lbcoder.
flashing radios and recoveries (incompatible ones) through recovery is how bricks happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably, but I've never had a bad experience flashing an SPL through recovery. Never once used fastboot. I very rarely actually can. Also, you run the risk of a brick ANY TIME you flash one. As for OP, just flash a new Engineering SPL. There's no real brick with those. I mean, yes you CAN, but just make sure it's not corrupted when you download it new SPL. Check MD5 Sum. There's no radio-spl brick with those. (As far as I know.) And, yes, those are the SPLs you want if you have a myTouch.
PurpleFries said:
DangerSPL is not required for the MT3G in the first place, so I'm not sure why you installed it in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know. I followed the tutorial word by word when it was first figured out how to root the MT3G. I literally had that handset for a week before anyone had done anything with it.
Thanks for the responses.
Edit: Bit the bullet and did it. No problems. Made sure to check the MD5 every time I moved the file, used fastboot. Couldn't have been easier and everything is working perfectly.

Seeking advice rooting MyTouch 1.2 (HTC Magic 32a)

Hello all, thank you for this great resource and any insight you can provide.
I need some of your wisdom, as I've been banging my head against a brick wall for about two weeks now, trying to root my T-Mobile MyTouch 1.2 (HTC Magic) with the 3.5" jack.
I did a couple hours of homework and began the process, but currently am stuck at the HTC Magic splash screen on normal boot up. I cannot boot into recovery; I have tried flashing both the Amon Ra versions, H and G. I can, however, boot into hboot and fastboot menu options, so it my understanding that my phone is salvageable with the right tools and process. Unfortunately, I was given bad advice—or incorrectly followed good advice—and now all the instructions I find to restore functionality to my phone don't go smoothly.
I've spent countless hours trying proposed found threads here (mostly) and other resources, but while the solutions sound like the apply to my hardware, they fail to complete successfully.
I have created two goldcards, both appear to work, as I have been able to flash a sappimg.zip image initially, but currently trying to flash again to remedy problems hangs and requires me to pull the battery. It usually hangs at the initial unzipping or at updating radio_v2. Via fastboot, I have been able to flash the stock hboot.nbo and reflash different versions. I was able to flash to the stock radio once, but have had problems trying to reflash images, trying to correct the issue.
These details have read different things at different stages in trying proposed solutions, but currently the info on fastboot menu reads:
SAPPHIRE UNKNOWN 32A SHIP S-ON H
HBOOT-1.33.0009 (SAPP31000)
CPLD-13
RADIO-6.35.10.18
At this moment, I've stopped trying to find answers on the forum because I've spent countless hours failing and more importantly, fear that if I continue applying incorrect solutions, I will irreversibly damage my phone. I hope that someone can provide some advice tailored to my situation.
Thank you for reading and for your reply. I understand that any advice I receive is at my own risk to follow.
Option one: flash the .nbo file for te engineerings 1.33.2010 spl and thz flash the g recovery.
Option two: flash the sappimg to revert back to stock then stsrt all over again
Option three: flash the stock sappimg and stay at stock thanking jesus you didnt **** anything up.
Sent from my HTC Magic using XDA App
You did not read the mytouch 1.2 rooting guide correctly. This phone can only run stock spl and radio. Read the guide at the unlockr. After using the goldcard you should have flashed stock spl and radio using fastboot.
NetrixTardis said:
You did not read the mytouch 1.2 rooting guide correctly. This phone can only run stock spl and radio. Read the guide at the unlockr. After using the goldcard you should have flashed stock spl and radio using fastboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried the files and process indicated on Unlockr several times. The files and process located here: theunlockr.com/2010/03/11/how-to-root-the-mytouch-1-2-and-fender-mytouch/
Attempting again, just now, I run into the same roadblock as reported in my initial post: Immediately after clicking the action button to execute the update, the process hangs at 'Unzipping' on step [1] SYSTEM, where the progress bar never moves, and pulling the battery is the only thing that works (unfortunately, since I'm warned not to power off the device!).
knny1491 said:
Option one: flash the .nbo file for te engineerings 1.33.2010 spl and thz flash the g recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for your response.
Attempting option 1, I get the following messaging in the terminal while trying to flash the hboot.img (not nb0, is this wrong?) downloaded from the 'Magic SPL HBOOT collection' thread located here: forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=529019
sending 'hboot' (512 KB)... OKAY
writing 'hboot'... INFOsignature checking...
FAILED (remote: signature verify fail)
In the previous reply to another helpful commenter I describe another error I get while attempting to update the sappimg provided by Unlockr.
Further insight is very much appreciated.
so this is the second time I'm seeing this exact problem... this is keeping me from rooting this mytouch. but last time i saw this problem I believe it was solved.. i can't remember where i saw it though! I'll look and look until i find it then i'll post it here!
but in the mean time you can try unrooting it until the problem is solved?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=665814
lbsk8addict said:
last time i saw this problem I believe it was solved.. i can't remember where i saw it though! I'll look and look until i find it then i'll post it here!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! I hope that you do.
lbsk8addict said:
but in the mean time you can try unrooting it until the problem is solved?
forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=665814
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've visited that thread before in my days of lurking, but didn't attempt it (I don't think—I've tried so many things, it's hard to remember fully at this point).
I think all I have right now are goldcards. I hope a stock SD card isn't needed, or I'll have to figure out how to restore a Kingston microSD or buy another.
Thanks again for all of your input.
lbsk8addict said:
but in the mean time you can try unrooting it until the problem is solved?
forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=665814
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Follow up, attempting to update to MT3G 1.2 Sappimg (BUILD# 2.10.531.4) downloaded via that link, I encounter the second error documented in my initial post, the update process hangs at updating step [2] RADIO_V2. The red progress bar stops at about 95%. Pulling the battery out is the only way to escape.
I think, and this is just a gut-level guess, that my problem stems from a corrupt radio version. Any one have an opinion or advice about that?
After pulling the battery and booting back into fastboot, my versioning reads as follows:
SAPPHIRE PVT 32A SHIP S-ON G
HBOOT-1.33.0013 (SAPP31000)
CPLD-13
RADIO 6.35.10.18
You have a 32a radio with a 32b spl, during the root process you are supposed to be able to revert that. What we need to do is get you onto an eng spl so you can fastboot erase radio, fastboot flash radio, then flash the correct hboot aka the stock one. Right now you cant fastboot or anything aka you are semi bricked. Only thing i can say is let it sit o the charger for as long as possible for the sappimg update and pray lots n lots.
Sent from my HTC Magic using XDA App
knny1491 said:
You have a 32a radio with a 32b spl, during the root process you are supposed to be able to revert that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for the follow up. I wish the news were better!
How can you tell that I have a 32b SPL? By the errors I'm experiencing? The SAPP310000? Just guesses here. I don't see that on my phone so, I'm curious to learn.
knny1491 said:
What we need to do is get you onto an eng spl so you can fastboot erase radio, fastboot flash radio, then flash the correct hboot aka the stock one. Right now you cant fastboot or anything aka you are semi bricked. Only thing i can say is let it sit o the charger for as long as possible for the sappimg update and pray lots n lots.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you advising my to sit on my hands, keeping my phone charged, until, hopefully, the development community comes up with a new sappimg solution? Or are you saying to preform the 1.33.2010 engineering SPL update until success or my phone dies?
I was stating to do the update where it freezes or hangs on the radio and let it sit for a crazy amount of time with praers, the spl version is defing by the numbers i the 1.33.0013 etc area, 32a users have 1.76.xxxx sp numbers while 32b users have 1.33.xxxx and after looking i see you are on the stouch 1.2 spl which is why fastbooting anything will not work. Quick question though did you try flashing te spl and radio BEFORE the recovery?
Sent from my HTC Magic using XDA App
knny1491 said:
I was stating to do the update where it freezes or hangs on the radio and let it sit for a crazy amount of time with praers, the spl version is defing by the numbers i the 1.33.0013 etc area, 32a users have 1.76.xxxx sp numbers while 32b users have 1.33.xxxx and after looking i see you are on the stouch 1.2 spl which is why fastbooting anything will not work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the reply. Good to know, as I was under the impression that all T-Mobile MyTouch 1.2 phones were 32A, and 1.33.0013 was the desired and appropriate version for 32A.
knny1491 said:
Quick question though did you try flashing te spl and radio BEFORE the recovery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I initially tried followed the procedure here: http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php/Full_Update_Guide_-_Fender/1.2
Where, I updated the SAPPIMG via goldcard, then through fastboot, I flashed the radio, hboot, and recovery. But, I wasn't able to boot to recovery after that process, for whatever reason, so I began trying other procedures from other sources, which in all likelihood took me further away from the solution instead of closer.
If the current attempt of updating radio_v2 until success or power battery dies (which has been hung for about 30 minutes so far) does not end successfully, should I try flashing a different hboot or radio? Or any other suggestions?
Thanks again for your continued help. I'm going to try to get some more attention to this thread to hopefully get more possible solutions.
If the radio doesnt flash then we have to question why the recovery didnt load, the g version is the correct version given there is only one spl for us 1.2 users and it is a google spl. That is why you flash radio then spl then recovery in that order so nothing messes up. The thing is you have to flash a radio before spl, yet you hav the spl yet NOT THE RADIO which leaves me to believe you accidentalky did the spl first n not the radio first.
Sent from my HTC Magic using XDA App
knny1491 said:
If the radio doesnt flash then we have to question why the recovery didnt load, the g version is the correct version given there is only one spl for us 1.2 users and it is a google spl. That is why you flash radio then spl then recovery in that order so nothing messes up. The thing is you have to flash a radio before spl, yet you hav the spl yet NOT THE RADIO which leaves me to believe you accidentalky did the spl first n not the radio first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, thanks so much for the continued insight.
I think, I flashed the radio down to original, but encountered some problem, misdiagnosed it, and flashed it back up again. Now it's been about 3 weeks of messing with this phone for a couple hours a day, so, unfortunately, it's hard to remember all that I've tried. If what you're saying is true, then yes, I must have accidentally flashed the SPL before the radio. Is there a remedy for this? I've been pouring over this forum searching for "can't flash radio" (forum.xda-developers.com/search.php?searchid=39519193&pp=25&page=1) and so far I've read people claiming to have had successfully deleting their radios completely and reinstalling. Is this an option? Any other suggestions?
I will PayPal $30 to you, anyone who can give me a solution to where this phone is working and rooted. Alternatively, I live in Los Angeles, if anyone can recommend a good, knowledgeable, phone repair shop.
it's really strange why that didn't work for you.
My steps were as follows:
**make sure phone is fully charged**
pre 1) create goldcard
1) place sappimg.zip on gold card
2) boot phone with goldcard to flash using Vold down + power
3) let it reboot - should boot up to the "htc magic" logo -- for me it never loaded back up to stock 1.6, I had to pull the battery.
4) boot to fastboot using back + power
5) connect phone to PC and verified it was recognized using "fastboot devices"
6) make sure you have stock radio and spl in your Android SDK's \tools
7) performed the following:
fastboot flash radio radio.img (or whatever the filename you have for the stock radio)
fastboot flash hboot hboot.nb0 (or whatever the filename you have for the stock hboot)
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img (or whatever the filename you have for amon_ra or clockwork or cm recovery)
fastboot reboot-bootloader (to make sure that stock radio and SPL are loaded again)
8) reboot to recovery using home+power
*from this point on, you no longer need to use your goldcard
9) have new ROM .zip on root of your SD card, option flash from zip
10) ???
11) profit
NetrixTardis said:
it's really strange why that didn't work for you.
My steps were as follows:
**make sure phone is fully charged**
pre 1) create goldcard
1) place sappimg.zip on gold card
2) boot phone with goldcard to flash using Vold down + power
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your continued feedback!
I think you've listed the standard recipe for rooting this phone. I believe you. Unfortunately, something in my phone has gone askew (certainly my error) at this point and the "standard" just isn't working now. As is, and for the past 3 weeks, the process you describe dies at step 2. It hangs while updating RADIO_v2 (at whatever position in the list of updates it is for a given SAPPIMG file). Also, attempting to flash a stock radio.img via fastboot also hangs. Both updates send just fine, but hang at updating around 95%.
I've also been getting some advice from another member, knny1491. On this page, above, you'll see he hypothesises what my error is:
knny1491 said:
If the radio doesnt flash then we have to question why the recovery didnt load, the g version is the correct version given there is only one spl for us 1.2 users and it is a google spl. That is why you flash radio then spl then recovery in that order so nothing messes up. The thing is you have to flash a radio before spl, yet you hav the spl yet NOT THE RADIO which leaves me to believe you accidentalky did the spl first n not the radio first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds plausible that I did flash things in the wrong order. I'll accept that. I've been messing with it so much, I'm lucky it works at all. So now, and still, my question is where to go from here? Do you know anything about this radio/SPL relationship and how to remedy this current conflict, NetrixTardis?
Thanks again.
Possibly try to re download the sappimg from the mgic spl thread?
I was just thinking, if your goal at this point is to have the phone usable again regardless of root; why not try the RUU exe ? If i unserstand what it does, it should flash the phone back to stock (radio, spl, recovery,ROM etc). You'll have a phone as if you just unboxed it.
Thats if i understand what the ROM Upgrade Utility (RUU) does correctly. Someone should be able to correct me...
NetrixTardis said:
I was just thinking, if your goal at this point is to have the phone usable again regardless of root; why not try the RUU exe ? If i unserstand what it does, it should flash the phone back to stock (radio, spl, recovery,ROM etc). You'll have a phone as if you just unboxed it.
Thats if i understand what the ROM Upgrade Utility (RUU) does correctly. Someone should be able to correct me...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the idea! I'll do some research on that. If anyone else can give any insight into if this may help restore my phone, please chime in!
I'd like root, but anything that gets the basic utility of the phone back would be great at this point (I've been using a old razr as a replacement while mine is hosed). I think an official 2.2 update is coming out from T-Mobile soon. I can wait for that.
NetrixTardis said:
Thats if i understand what the ROM Upgrade Utility (RUU) does correctly. Someone should be able to correct me...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If this is a good potential solution, could someone please direct me to which RUU to use? I've located the "[ROM] Official HTC Sapphire/Magic/MT3G RUU ROM Links" thread here: forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=659403
There really is a great abundance of options. I'm guessing I should go for the latest [MT3G 1.2] download which is:
36) [xda-ftp] [4shared] 2.10.531.4 T-Mobile USA DRD35
36) 2.10.531.4 1.33.0013G 2.22.23.02 N T-MOB010
I'll want a few hours or perhaps a day before attempting this process, in hopes that some helpful reader will provide his input if this is a good or bad thing to do as far as getting the phone working again.
Thanks!

[REQUEST] Can anyone write a guide for Unrooting

Its only going to be a matter of time before people will need to send phones back under warranty for whatever reasons so a guide for unrooting will be needed.
Any takers?
G2 already has one, but obviously we will need different rom/hboot etc to go back to our stock.
Not just unrooting, but going completely back to stock, i.e. S-ON and stock ROM.
As you say, we should be able to base it on this - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=835971
Although we have several different stock ROMs, e.g. European, Asian, Vodafone UK, etc.
this is already covered in the FAQ (easy tutorial @ dev forum)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=9143411&postcount=2
gtrab said:
this is already covered in the FAQ (easy tutorial @ dev forum)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=9143411&postcount=2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That just says to use Visionary to turn off rooting. Or did I miss something ?
As I said, I think we need to cover how to return a phone completely to stock, and I don't think it includes all that you'd really need to do, or if you didn't use Visionary in the first place, e.g. the kind of stuff in the G2 post that I linked.
steviewevie said:
That just says to use Visionary to turn off rooting. Or did I miss something ?
As I said, I think we need to cover how to return a phone completely to stock, and I don't think it includes all that you'd really need to do, or if you didn't use Visionary in the first place, e.g. the kind of stuff in the G2 post that I linked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does say to flash an RUU to S-ON which in the past I would have said would work, but seeing how the G2 forums are not suggesting that its that simple my guess would be that its not that simple.
I had to flash the PC10img thing taken from the stock ROM to restore root and s-on. But no idea how to extract that PC10img thing, not that I have looked into it either.
That info was from one of the guides in the dev section I'm sure.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
What might work now will probably not work once an OTA update comes out for the DZ though, as per the problem on the G2 they've had which has led to quite a few semi-bricks (possibly full bricks in some cases ?).
Done some research, it would seem that flashing an RUU would work fine for those of us already rooted, if an OTA were to come out those who rooted after the OTA would have issues unless an RUU for the same OTA was released as well. (this is basically because the RUU's currently available will be older than the software the phone is on so the RUU would fail leaving you with a semi-bricked phone as described above, basically it would flash stock hboot and recovery then fail to flash the /system so you would be left with no root or recovery and no rom.
Flashing the ruu would give rise to accepting the OTA too, if you really wanted to do that, but it might block root.
you just need the RUU for your correct original phone version
OR use a gold card
eg. I have debranded mine from bell NAM 1.34.666.5 to euro generic 1.34.405.5
To go back to stock, I can:
1.- grab the bell 1.34.666.1 RUU (its slightly previous, but is the correct original version for my phone)
OR
2.- run the euro generic 1.34.405.5 with a golcard inserted
gtrab said:
you just need the RUU for your correct original phone version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't that dangerous though once we get any OTAs, and could lead to this ?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=838484
Or am I missing something ?
steviewevie said:
Isn't that dangerous though once we get any OTAs, and could lead to this ?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=838484
Or am I missing something ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes thats what I was getting at in my post above, any RUU you flash needs to be of the same or newer version of what your previously flashing. You cannot GoldCard to flash an RUU to S-ON or you get left with the semi-brick where you have stock recovery and hboot, but no rom installed.
So if an OTA comes out, you can't accept it, s-off then use an older RUU to s-on again. You would have to flash an RUU of that OTA version (if one is released).
Basically its best to not accept any OTA if you can avoid it and just wait for a custom rom of the same, that way we can always use the older RUU's to s-on if we need it.
I successfully downgraded my rooted/S-OFF'd phone to an earlier ROM last night. I simply followed this method - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=832503
I'm of the firm belief that this is the onyl way to do it if you are at S-OFF. If you have S-OFF, then flashing an older RUU will probably brick your phone.
Well yesterday I perm root and s-off my european Desire Z with World/Euro generic 1.34.405.5. Somehow everything went bad after flashing recovery mode, so I decided to unroot it and bring it back to original settings.
I found there are 2 methods, one is to run the original ruu, and the other one was to copy the exact World/Euro generic 1.34.405.5 PC10img.zip to the root of my sd card.
Then entered to bootloader, and the phone recognize the archive, I simply apply it, and now I am back again to original stock.
However now I tried again and I am happily root, and S-Off following the amazing gtrab guide (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=835777)
buzmay said:
I found there are 2 methods, one is to run the original ruu, and the other one was to copy the exact World/Euro generic 1.34.405.5 PC10img.zip to the root of my sd card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the thing I keep saying though, flashing the original RUU worked for you because you weren't trying to downgrade the ROM, it was the same version that you already had on (just S-OFF etc). If you had a later version on your phone (e.g. via an OTA update) and were trying to flash to an earlier one, you would have bricked it trying the straight RUU method.
So what should be done is download and install an RUU - say 1.234.987, so you're on 1.234.987 - then root / S-OFF / custom ROM the phone. If anything goes wrong, reinstall the 1.234.987 RUU.
By the way - that's a fake RUU
DanWilson said:
So what should be done is download and install an RUU - say 1.234.987, so you're on 1.234.987 - then root / S-OFF / custom ROM the phone. If anything goes wrong, reinstall the 1.234.987 RUU.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
During that process, if the stock HBOOT/recovery that is installed by that RUU decides that what you're trying to flash is "older" than your custom ROM, you're screwed though. That's why the "debranding" guide has extra steps in it, i.e. gold card and editing the misc partition.
steviewevie said:
During that process, if the stock HBOOT/recovery that is installed by that RUU decides that what you're trying to flash is "older" than your custom ROM, you're screwed though. That's why the "debranding" guide has extra steps in it, i.e. gold card and editing the misc partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hate HTC.
Love the phones, love the Sense, hate the security.
Why not give us a command like the N1? WHY!?
So you should backup the system partition before S-OFF and so on? Like so a dd? (Following on from previous post)
DanWilson said:
So you should backup the system partition before S-OFF and so on? Like so a dd? (Following on from previous post)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The system partition isn't changed in S-OFF, that's the boot partition (just allows writing to the system partition).
The gold card and editing of the misc partition should work fine, as per this thread - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=832503
It worked for me last night to flash to an older stock ROM (which also gave me S-ON again, removing my S-OFF).
steviewevie said:
The system partition isn't changed in S-OFF, that's the boot partition (just allows writing to the system partition).
The gold card and editing of the misc partition should work fine, as per this thread - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=832503
It worked for me last night to flash to an older stock ROM (which also gave me S-ON again, removing my S-OFF).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool. Confused. I believe you though.
But you are saying just to make a gold card, and edit the misc partition?
Nice
DanWilson said:
Cool. Confused. I believe you though.
But you are saying just to make a gold card, and edit the misc partition?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Following that guide that I linked worked for me. Yes, I turned my SD card into a gold card and edited the misc partition. Then it is fooled into thinking you're restoring a ROM of the same version that it already is running, so it lets you do it.
Actually, I do wonder whether both steps are necessary (i.e. gold card *and* editing misc), because I thought the whole point of the gold card was that it avoided those checks, so perhaps you can do one or the other ? I am only thinking out loud here, and may well be missing something, so I don't suggest trying it other than as in that guide.

[MISC] Major news on SIM unlocking and radio S-OFF

This has been in progress for a while. If you follow the G2 forums, then you'll know that there have been big problems with G2 phones that have been unlocked via unlock codes, with those unlocked phones then not being able to find a network at all.
It looks like the guys on #G2ROOT have cracked S-OFF for radio. This is *not* the same as the current S-OFF that we have from HBOOT. Apparently it should help to prevent semi-bricking via incorrect flashing of older ROMs.
The article in the Wiki explains all. Documentation about the procedures should be coming soon. We will of course have to make sure it's fine on the DZ too :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/wik...Subsidy_Unlock.2C_SuperCID.2C_and_Radio_S-OFF
nice gives all those "bricked" g2's hope
Radio S-OFF is permanent S-OFF?
So no more warranty? Damn.
I'll stick to the stock ROM for a while with root, then HBOOT S-OFF, but never radio S-OFF.
I like warranty. Never know when you'll need it.
DanWilson said:
Radio S-OFF is permanent S-OFF?
So no more warranty? Damn.
I'll stick to the stock ROM for a while with root, then HBOOT S-OFF, but never radio S-OFF.
I like warranty. Never know when you'll need it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I imagine it'll still be possible to reverse it. From a scan of the IRC logs (though of course I might have missed important stuff), it looks like you just need to write the correct data to the right area of a partition to get the radio S-OFF. So surely you can un-do that by writing the previous data ?
Documentation on this is now up, see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=855764
Bear in mind that the instructions are for the G2 right now, so if you try this out on a DZ there's a high chance of a permanent brick ! But hopefully someone will sort out a verified method for the DZ soon
I would not advise people do this form of S-OFF unless they really need to anyway, its harder to come back from (if you did semi-brick) and holds more risks.
Lennyuk said:
I would not advise people do this form of S-OFF unless they really need to anyway, its harder to come back from (if you did semi-brick) and holds more risks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But when an easier way to do it comes along (which is being worked on, I believe), a full S-OFF will be a lot safer, because then it won't be so easy to brick your phone by simply flashing an old RUU.
steviewevie said:
But when an easier way to do it comes along (which is being worked on, I believe), a full S-OFF will be a lot safer, because then it won't be so easy to brick your phone by simply flashing an old RUU.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
people should not be flashing an old RUU anyway!
anyone who is silly enough to do that gets a brick for a reason.
Always either flash the latest ruu, or restore a nandroid of stock and flash an ota it offers, these are the safest ways.
You will get more bricks from people doing radio s-off than the s-off + ruu method gives.
Lennyuk said:
I would not advise people do this form of S-OFF unless they really need to anyway, its harder to come back from (if you did semi-brick) and holds more risks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're an ass-talker. You talk through your ass, blow hot air, and have no idea what you're talking about.
1) it is SAFER,
2) it is EASIER to come back from,
3) it is SAFER.
Why is it safer? Because it does NOT require writing the hboot or radio! You can blow p7 out and android will still boot, which means that you have the opportunity to fix it if something goes wrong.
A bad flash of the radio or hboot and you're dead.
For those who might not have seen it yet, there's now a fully documented procedure on how to do this to your DZ (and yes, it's been tested on the DZ too).
As has been said, this is a safer method to get S-OFF (letting you flash custom ROMs) than the previous method of putting on an engineering hboot.
See http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=857390
DanWilson said:
Radio S-OFF is permanent S-OFF?
So no more warranty? Damn.
I'll stick to the stock ROM for a while with root, then HBOOT S-OFF, but never radio S-OFF.
I like warranty. Never know when you'll need it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all i do for warrenty with modded phones is feed 12-20 volts ( from a wall adapter) into the battery contacts and tost the main board and bring it back as dead they send me a new one no questions asked cause the phone is dead...even did this with a htc ppc6800 that i smashed the screen in and thay warrenteyed it no prob....this is on bell in canada....
666
I was following your discussion on bricking because of flashing ruus but for some reason it doesn't apply to me. I had an Asian WWE 1.34.707.5 (shipped with my phone) then I flashed it with Asian WWE 1.34.707.3 RUU and it didn't brick my phone.

stock hboot (0.85.0005) ignores S-OFF?

Hi all,
today i discovered something strange and i like to get your opinion on that:
I am not able to do s-off things in fastboot even if i have s-off!
Situation:
Phone: Desire Z
HBOOT: stock 0.85.0005
FW: 1.34..
Rooted: did root, supercid and s-off via gfree and verified via gfree_verify - even hboot showes up S-OFF
ROM: GingerVillain 1.5
Recovery: ClockworkMod 3.0.0.5
Problem:
First of all, i myself have no problem, but i started experimenting after a friend semi-bricked his desire z with same setup.
I did a nandroid backup and when i boot into hboot and do a 'fastboot flash recovery recovery.img' (with my nandroid recovery.img) i always get a remote: not allowed.
Now from my point of view this should only happen if I have a S-ON and should be impossible with S-OFF ?! Even using 'fastboot oem rebootRUU' does not change anything.
The thing that concerns me about that is: If something destroys both system and recovery, your pretty much screwed + bricked because hboot is not allowed to write to something other then cache and all of this basic stuff doesn't work:
- flash recovery with CW
- flash a complete zip
- flash an other hboot
- RUU
When I rooted my phone i have read everywhere that eng-hboots are not necessary any longer. But it appears that they are the only thing that helps and you have to install them as long as you have a working ROM.
Any thoughts on that issue / can you reproduce this / are fastboot actions logged anywhere?
You need a ENG. HBoot to use fastboot commands, doesn't matter if your s-off.
yeah, i came to the same conclusion..
is there any chance to flash a eng-hboot from a bricked 0.85.0005? i did some experimentation with a goldcard, but at least remote commands didn't change in behaviour..
I think being full-bricked when something goes wrong and not having an eng-hboot already installed is not an acceptable solution for most people here
DragonTEC said:
yeah, i came to the same conclusion..
is there any chance to flash a eng-hboot from a bricked 0.85.0005?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe thru a modified PC10IMG.zip
I think being full-bricked when something goes wrong and not having an eng-hboot already installed is not an acceptable solution for most people here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My thoughts exactly, its kind of a safety if you can't boot into android.
i'm not sure if a PC10IMG.zip will help at all.. my friend tried flashing both 1.34 and 1.72 RUU ROMs as PC10IMG and this didn't change anything.. in fact, the 1.72 even didn' install the new .00008 hbott, so i thing there is some heavy write protection in the hboot making it more or less useless..
what i can imagine that works is aa gokldcard with sppimg.zip, but i haven't yet found one for the desire z..
i have the feeling that this is a huge problem because with a short research i have found at least 3 threads of people having bricked their phone exactly this way and are now stuck.. some of the experts here might pay attention to this problem and in my opinion you should also consider removing the 'a eng-hboot is not needed, don't use it' advice from the rooting section of the wiki..
So what exactly is your problem.
You destroyed recovery and system?
If yes, and you used gfree to get Super-CID just install an PC10IMG that has a version higher or equal to the main version in you misc partition. And then do the whole downgrading, rooting, flashing recovery again.
If you are not Super-CID you might need a goldcard in addition if the CID of the phone is not supported by the PC10IMG that you whant to install.
have fun Guhl
It is almost impossible to brick this phone. The only possible way might be a failed copy of the eng-hboot and this is why the warning is and stays in the wiki.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
I thought so, too, but when flashing a newer original RUU using the PC10IMG.zip, the flash process runs okay, but after the restart nothing (still hangs in HTC screen, no new hboot) changes so apparently no changes are made..
So from my point of view the phone is more or less bricked.. i guess maybe some custome PC10IMG with an eng-hboot might change this, but i only found one for the G2 and wasn't able to find one for the DZ.. Thats why I thing that removing the 'UNNECESSARY' advice is justified (of course i don't want the warning advice that this can brick the phone to be removed)..

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