Root S-off software for Desire S is here

[notebook]

For those interested, there's now a fairly solid, open beta version of an S-off for the Desire S from AlphaRev at AlphaRev X - Make it your phone.

Remember it's a) still in beta, and b) there may be risks and hassles involved, especially if you don't know what you're doing.

 

[Pachanga]

I recently used it to s-off my phone & it seems to have worked flawlessly.

One question though; you say there may be risks involved as it's still beta, does this still apply once s-off is achieved? I.e is the risk in the process of making it s-off? Thanks

 

[notebook]

@Pachanga

Once you have have S-Off then you should be fine. As it's still in beta, AlphaRev are still tweaking things (especially Windows), but as you've got through the actual process, it's unlikely you'll get any problems because of it. So, once it's successfully finished, you're safe. The problems you will now have (if you want them!) is regarding which ROMs to flash and if you need to return your phone under warranty.

There is a proviso to this. Currently, AlphaRev only works with one version of HBoot. AlphaRev claim to have protected users from overwriting HBoot so that it's not possible to flash an OTA/RUU and make your phone subsequently unrootable.

However, there are some people who have downgraded their version of HBoot in order to get S-off with AlphaRev and have got into trouble when trying to flash the stock ROM back as it won't recognise the 'new' HBoot version. AlphaRev are working on this.

 

[InfernalByte]

@Pachanga

Once you have have S-Off then you should be fine. As it's still in beta, AlphaRev are still tweaking things (especially Windows), but as you've got through the actual process, it's unlikely you'll get any problems because of it. So, once it's successfully finished, you're safe. The problems you will now have (if you want them!) is regarding which ROMs to flash and if you need to return your phone under warranty.

There is a proviso to this. Currently, AlphaRev only works with one version of HBoot. AlphaRev claim to have protected users from overwriting HBoot so that it's not possible to flash an OTA/RUU and make your phone subsequently unrootable.

However, there are some people who have downgraded their version of HBoot in order to get S-off with AlphaRev and have got into trouble when trying to flash the stock ROM back as it won't recognise the 'new' HBoot version. AlphaRev are working on this.

As official custom roms come on scene there will be various Hboots available with table to tightly fit custom roms. Expect hboot downgraders when these come available.

 

[InfernalByte]

@Pachanga

There is a proviso to this. Currently, AlphaRev only works with one version of HBoot. AlphaRev claim to have protected users from overwriting HBoot so that it's not possible to flash an OTA/RUU and make your phone subsequently unrootable.

However, there are some people who have downgraded their version of HBoot in order to get S-off with AlphaRev and have got into trouble when trying to flash the stock ROM back as it won't recognise the 'new' HBoot version. AlphaRev are working on this.

Push ENG Hboot via adb.

Tested, and I can confirm it works.

 

[mmm_cake]

Anyone know if this is going to become available to mac users too?

 

[notebook]

It already is. There's a Revolutionary for Linux and you can run Linux on a Mac.

But if you want something that will work with the Mac OS, don't hold your breath.

 

[1st_Paladin]

Yes. Just wondering whether S-On can be turned back on. If yes, what are the steps. Will the phone still be rooted after?

Many thanks for your help.

 

[notebook]

S-On means security is on; that your phone has read-only access.

S-Off (security off) unlocks the write/delete permissions on your phone and its system.

Root allows the user (and apps) access to those write/delete permissions.

So, you can't have S-On and be rooted as they are mutually exclusive.

There are a few ways to get back to S-On from an S-Off phone depending on how the phone was originally S-Off'd, but they all involve flashing or installing an appropriate RUU to the phone. There's no simple on-off switch.

 

[1st_Paladin]

Thanks for your reply. Apologies for the n00b question. I also have a Desire in addition to Desire S. For the Desire, it is rooted and S-On. There was no need to turn S-Off. Hence the question for my Desire S.

From what I read, it seems that S-Off must take place before the phone can be rooted. Does that mean that once rooted, S-On cannot take place without losing root?

Many thanks for your help.

 

[notebook]

From what I read, it seems that S-Off must take place before the phone can be rooted. Does that mean that once rooted, S-On cannot take place without losing root?

That's correct. The only way at the moment* to get back to S-On is to use an RUU to flash a stock or branded ROM to the phone, which will revert the phone back to its original state, including security settings - S-On and unrooted. The only way to unroot a phone is to S-On the phone.

*Technically, on other phones, it's been possible to modify the HBOOT and achieve S-On (and unroot the phone) without an RUU, but I haven't seen this done on the Desire S.

 

[1st_Paladin]

Just wondering whether it is possible to install Clockworkmod 2.5.0.7 on the Desire S after S-Off? How? Can you use Android Flasher? Do you need to be in Flashboot?

 

[FoX777]

Just wondering whether it is possible to install Clockworkmod 2.5.0.7 on the Desire S after S-Off? How? Can you use Android Flasher? Do you need to be in Flashboot?

Why v2? v5 is out for the desire s.

You can use adb/fastboot or ROM Manager to install Clockworkmod after s-off

 

[notebook]

@1st_Paladin

As FOX777 says, and assuming you have root, one way is to install ROM Manager, then install ClockworkMod via ROM Manager.

I haven't played around with Android Flasher, but I believe all you need to do is get the ClockworkMod recovery image file and use Android Flasher to install it to your phone. The advantage of this is that you don't need root or to download ROM Manager.