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Root Complete Newbie's Guide to rooting and flashing Evo V 4G ROMs/Kernels using fastboot

This is a guide to walk users through installing the Android SDK and using fastboot and ADB. The unlocking and rooting process for HTC devices can be a little daunting. We discovered this with the Evo 3D, so I wrote a similar guide to this one in that section to help ease the confusion. I hope to continue the tradition with this guide in this forum.

So let's get started!

Note: This WILL wipe out your settings, apps, et cetera. Please make any/all necessary backups before proceeding.

Due to popular desire for a simpler guide, I've decided to make a "skinny" version. If you need further explanation, please see post 2 for the "full" guide.

Step 1) How to install and configure the Android SDK

First, you need to download a lot of software. So here are the download links:

1) HTC Sync

2) TeamWin Recovery Project (TWRP) version 1.1.1 - Recovery - Get the IMG version, not the ZIP version. Rename this file to "recovery.img" if it appears as 'recovery-twrp-shooter-1.1.1.img'. If it appears as 'recovery-twrp-shooter-1.1.1' then just rename it to 'recovery'.

3) The stock ROM. Grab the ODEX version for as near to stock experience as possible.

4) Mini-SDK Then extract Mini SDK to C:\sdk-tools.

Step 2) Move files to where they need to be.

It doesn't really matter where in the SD card you put it. I just recommend you put the Stock ROM + root in a folder named ROMs and the recovery file needs to go in the C:\sdk-tools directory on your computer.

Step 3) Opening the command prompt and getting ready for entering fastboot.

Now, click Start and either open Run, or click in the text box in your start menu. Then type 'cmd'. You get a command prompt. Now we need to go to the Mini SDK folder. If you installed it in the same directory I did, you can copy (or type):

Code:
cd C:\sdk-tools

Step 4) Unlocking with HTC Dev

If you haven't already unlocked your bootloader using HTC DEV Unlock we will do so now.

Step 1) Getting into fastboot.

Go to Settings > Applications > Development and check USB Debugging. You'll need this enabled for the adb reboot command.

Connect your phone to your computer. From now until you're done flashing your ROM, you will not disconnect the USB cable.

Now, in the command prompt, type (or copy and paste):

Code:
adb reboot bootloader

Step 2) Getting the device identifier token and then flashing unlock_code.bin

Type the following command in the command prompt:

Code:
fastboot oem get_identifier_token

A long text boxes will come up. Right mouse button click on the screen and click mark. Then highlight the token from <<<< Identifier Token Start >>>> to <<<<< Identifier Token End >>>>>, like shown:

]
bootloaderimage.png
infoimage.png


Do not highlight info or bootloader or any extra spaces or text. Once you have done that, right click again and hit copy.

Now go to HTCdev - Unlock Bootloader and fill out the forms and paste the code into the device identifier token box and submit. If you're having trouble with the HTC dev site, please disable any pop up blockers, anti-viruses, and/or firewalls (temporarily). You'll get an email (check your spam folder) with your unlock_code.bin. Once your receive it, transfer that file into your C:\sdk-tools\ folder. Now go back to your command window and type:

Code:
fastboot flash unlocktoken Unlock_code.bin

The unlock token should reboot the phone for you (so that you'll be back in Android). If it doesn't you can do it manually by reinserting the battery and then holding Vol down + power. You should now see UNLOCKED displayed at the top. If so, congratulations, you are now unlocked!

Step 5) Let's install then boot into recovery!

Now we need to get back into the bootloader.

To do that, type this in the command prompt:

Code:
adb reboot bootloader

Once in the bootloader (HBOOT) type (or copy):

Code:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

This now flashes TWRP 1.1.1 that we downloaded earlier.

Wait for that to finish, then type (or copy/paste):

Code:
fastboot boot recovery.img

Step 6) Before you do anything, it's time to make a backup.

I'd recommend that you backup:

System
Data
Boot
Wimax

Everything else is optional, in my opinion.

Step 7) Flashing the ROM

TWRP 1.1.1 has capacitive buttons that work, so hit the back button. To flash a ROM/Kernel, do the following:

1) Go to Wipe Menu

A) Wipe Cache
B) Wipe Dalvik Cache
OPTIONAL) Wipe Everything (Data Factory Reset) - This is useful if you have problems with flashing certain ROMS. Some ROMs require this before flashing. For the stock ROM, this isn't necessary. But if you're on HBOOT 1.5 and used HTC Dev, you did a factory reset anyways, so it can't hurt.

2) Go back and now go to Install Zip.

A) Choose Zip
B) Go to the folder ROMs/
C) Select the ROM you want to flash (the stock ROM or SU patch for example)
D) If you're flashing another kernel, you would find your kernel and by selecting Choose Zip and finding the kernel file. The kernel must be selected AFTER the ROM is selected, or else the kernel built into the ROM will overwrite the kernel you want to flash.
E) Check 'Reboot After Successful Flash' - this is just a nice feature of TWRP that makes it so you don't have to pay attention to the flashing process.
F) Flash Zips Now

3) Sit back and relax. The flash is going to take 3 or so minutes. Then it'll reboot. The reboot will take 5 minutes or so and will always take 5 minutes or so every time you clear out the cache and dalvik cache. It is normal.

If successful, congradulations! You flashed a recovery, ROM and kernel by using fastboot!

Quick Guide) Flashing another ROM

Let's say you want to flash a new ROM. Here's how to do it:

If you're starting in Android, connect your USB cable. Then click Start and either open Run, or click in the text box in your start menu. Then type 'cmd'. You get a command prompt. Now what you type or copy/paste will depend on your version of Windows and where you installed the Android SDK.

Code:
cd C:\sdk-tools

Then type:

Code:
adb reboot bootloader

When the bootloader appears, type:

Code:
fastboot boot recovery.img

You're now in recovery. Make a backup if you wish, then:

1) Go to Wipe Menu

A) Wipe Cache
B) Wipe Dalvik Cache
OPTIONAL) Wipe Everything (Data Factory Reset) - This is useful if you have problems with flashing certain ROMS. Some ROMs require this before flashing. For the stock ROM, this isn't necessary. But if you're on HBOOT 1.5 and used HTC Dev, you did a factory reset anyways, so it can't hurt.

2) Go back and now go to Install Zip.

A) Choose Zip
B) Go to the folder ROMs/

C) Select the ROM you want to flash. If you chose just to download the SU patch or the stock ROM + Superuser, this is where you would select the file.

D) If you're flashing another kernel, you would find your kernel and by selecting Choose Zip and finding the kernel file. The kernel must be selected AFTER the ROM is selected, or else the kernel built into the ROM will overwrite the kernel you want to flash.
E) Check 'Reboot After Successful Flash' - this is just a nice feature of TWRP that makes it so you don't have to pay attention to the flashing process.
F) Flash Zips Now

3) Sit back and relax. The flash is going to take 3 or so minutes. Then it'll reboot. The reboot will take 5 minutes or so and will always take 5 minutes or so every time you clear out the cache and dalvik cache. It is normal.
If successful, congradulations! Enjoy the new ROM/Kernel!

(Optional) Installing 4EXT - Highly Recommended!

There is a recovery that makes it really easy for HBOOT 1.5 people to flash ROMs and kernels. It's called 4EXT Touch Recovery. If you're familiar with ROM Manager, you'll love this app/recovery. You can control every aspect of your phone's recovery from an app. Best of all, even with S-ON Unlocked, you can flash kernels without using fastboot. Just go to their website to get the free version that comes with a 3 day trial of the full version, or get the full version. After you're done with the trial, I'm sure most of you will want the full version. It makes everything easy. I use it, too, and I'm on HBOOT 1.4 :p

To install, download/install the app (free or paid) and open it. Give it SuperUser permissions and then click through all the pop up dialogs. Push the install button at the top. Indicate if you are S-ON or not (if you had to unlock with HTC, then you click yes). And it installs. And after 5 minutes of running the free version, your trial for the full version starts. So come back in 5 minutes and reload the app (by pushing the back button until you get back to the desktop and relaunch). If you're on the paid version, you can just start using the app immediately.

Now go to recovery and you can do everything you would normally do in recovery, but it's fully automated once you click start after selecting all your options. Including making backups, wiping caches, and installing ROMs. Remember to support the developers if it makes things a lot easier for you![/spoiler]

(Optional) Getting S-OFF - Highly Recommended!

What is S-OFF?

S-OFF means that bootloader security is off. This allows you to flash images to the /boot partition. Simply put: It lets you flash whatever you want without using fastboot or specially enabled recoveries. It makes things much easier to do but it also takes away the security that keeps you from bricking your device. If you do S-OFF (it is recommended), remember to check everything that you're about to flash and make sure it's for the Evo V.

http://androidforums.com/evo-v-4g-all-things-root/558583-s-off-juopunutbear-s-off-beta-release.html - S-OFF while staying on HBOOT 1.5. Requires you do a 'wire trick' to ground out a signal at a certain point. May be easier than temporarily bricking your device.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Based off of my Evo 3D root guide found here: http://androidforums.com/evo-3d-all...shing-evo-3d-roms-kernels-using-fastboot.html

Some of the commands in this guide were found here: [GUIDE] HTC Unlock Hboot 1.50 + TWRP Recovery + Root + Flash!! [9.11.11] - xda-developers and http://androidforums.com/evo-3d-all...lash-recovery-image-via-fastboot-sd-card.html. I just sought to make a complete newbies guide version of it.
I hope this fixes the missing part of the guide
 
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idk which bootloader to choose,
help??

Considering there's an HBOOT downgrade thread, I'm going to guess that you want the old one.

C:\Users\Kyle\Desktop\Phone Stuff\Fastboot and adb>fastboot flash recovery recov
ery.img
error: cannot load 'recovery.img'

I am unlocked but this is the error I get when trying to flash the recovery

Make sure you renamed the 'twrp-111-recovery.img' to 'recovery.img'. If Windows is in it's default settings, it will hide extensions by default. So if you downloaded the file and it was called 'twrp-111-recovery' then it needs to be named 'recovery', as the .img part is hidden by Windows.
 
Upvote 0
Make sure you renamed the 'twrp-111-recovery.img' to 'recovery.img'. If Windows is in it's default settings, it will hide extensions by default. So if you downloaded the file and it was called 'twrp-111-recovery' then it needs to be named 'recovery', as the .img part is hidden by Windows.

Thanks but I figured it out I didn't have the file in the right directory *facepalm...
 
Upvote 0
First off, thank you to everyone that made this guide or contributed to it. On to the problem. I was rooting the phone and after the flashing of the recovery.img, when you type "fastboot boot recovery.img" i did not see a green vertical progress bar on the phone. When the phone went to the Team Win page, I noticed an error at the bottom of the page. the error was:
E:Bad boot message
"TIME"
I don't want to brick it and was wondering if the correct thing to do was to reinstall by doing: "fastboot flash recovery recovery.img" and then retry
"fastboot boot recovery.img"
Thank you in advance for any help on this matter.
 
Upvote 0
First off, thank you to everyone that made this guide or contributed to it. On to the problem. I was rooting the phone and after the flashing of the recovery.img, when you type "fastboot boot recovery.img" i did not see a green vertical progress bar on the phone. When the phone went to the Team Win page, I noticed an error at the bottom of the page. the error was:
E:Bad boot message
"TIME"
I don't want to brick it and was wondering if the correct thing to do was to reinstall by doing: "fastboot flash recovery recovery.img" and then retry
"fastboot boot recovery.img"
Thank you in advance for any help on this matter.

I've seen that a lot of times. The recovery should still be fine.
 
Upvote 0
OK thanks. I was starting to panic after i redownloaded the recovery a couple of times and tried renaming it. Thanks you so much for your help. You are awesome.

Haha yeah don't worry, it's easy to freak out. the OP needs to put "ignore this error" in the original post so people like you and me don't panic. I was confused too when I first started dev stuff with this phone too.
 
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Hey guys new to the forum, new to androids, anyways i just go the htc EVO V for virgin mobile, i am trying to unlock it and root it, but i cant find the model phone under the htcdev site, and i cant get my computer to copy the token file numbers, any help would be apprieciated, thank you.

Use "EVO 3D" as the phone on htcdev.
 
Upvote 0
Thank you, so now what about me not being able to copy the token, i have a windows 7 ultimate 32 bit computer

Right click on the command window, select Mark, select the part of the token you need, then hit ctrl+c. then you can paste it with ctrl+v wherever you need it.

Sorry for the late reply I only have tapatalk on my browser.
 
Upvote 0
I've got a nice puzzle for all ya guys out there who love rooting phones. This one may stump the best of ya and/or just be me having a brain error.

1.) I successfully rooted the phone and installed Harmonia 3.15 tweaked on it
2.) I made a recovery on my SD card. Whoo hoo look at me go.
3.) I decided, hell, I'm doin good so far let's try this revolutionary s-off thing
4.) After failing the wire test the program started saying it was unable to locate the device
5.) I'm pretty sure revolutionary wiped my SD card that had my recovery on it, seein as my attempts at hboot to recovery menu options aren't working.
6.) My computer won't successfully install HTC sync software or detect my device
7.) I think I'm ****ed.
8.) Anyone want a phone?
 
Upvote 0
I've got a nice puzzle for all ya guys out there who love rooting phones. This one may stump the best of ya and/or just be me having a brain error.

1.) I successfully rooted the phone and installed Harmonia 3.15 tweaked on it
2.) I made a recovery on my SD card. Whoo hoo look at me go.
3.) I decided, hell, I'm doin good so far let's try this revolutionary s-off thing
4.) After failing the wire test the program started saying it was unable to locate the device
5.) I'm pretty sure revolutionary wiped my SD card that had my recovery on it, seein as my attempts at hboot to recovery menu options aren't working.
6.) My computer won't successfully install HTC sync software or detect my device
7.) I think I'm ****ed.
8.) Anyone want a phone?

Sure send it to me. Or get on their website and click on contact then jump on their Irc to chat with them. They are great help and the solution is rather simple but I'm mobile so I can't spell it all out
 
Upvote 0
To anyone: I managed to insert the SD card into the phone while I was in twrp menu. Performed a wipe of everything and formatted the /sdcard & /sd-ext. Twrp says it can't mount the sd card no matter what I do. You can see by now I'm really searching here, floating. Next I went after an RUU but unsure which to download. The left side of my brain isn't working today. Any help you guys feel like throwin out would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
Upvote 0
Have a quick question, hopefully someone is still up that can help. I just started this process, and as I'm following along, I get to the HTCDev stuff, but it won't actually let me register, so now my phone is sitting in fastboot and I can't do crap with it, since the giude says not to unplug until this is done. Sooo... what do I need to do to get the phone back to normal so I can use it until HTC fixes their site? (twitter is FULL of ppl with the same issue it seems):mad:

.. great, just got an email from HTC.. due to "Extensive Site Updates" the registration process is closed for up to the next 48 hours...
 
Upvote 0
Have a quick question, hopefully someone is still up that can help. I just started this process, and as I'm following along, I get to the HTCDev stuff, but it won't actually let me register, so now my phone is sitting in fastboot and I can't do crap with it, since the giude says not to unplug until this is done. Sooo... what do I need to do to get the phone back to normal so I can use it until HTC fixes their site? (twitter is FULL of ppl with the same issue it seems):mad:

.. great, just got an email from HTC.. due to "Extensive Site Updates" the registration process is closed for up to the next 48 hours...

If all you did was boot the phone into fastboot mode and didn't unlock the bootloader or wipe any data yet, you should just be able to select reboot from the bootloader and you should be back where you started before you started the process. nothing gets wiped out until you actually unlock the bootloader, which you obviously can't do until you've gotten the unlock key from htcdev in the first place
 
Upvote 0

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