NOTE: THIS GUIDE IS A COMPILATION OF SEVERAL STEPS FROM VARIOUS FORUMS AND DEVELOPER WEBSITES. IT IS A WORKING PROCEDURE AS OF JANUARY 2013 AND IS FOR ROOTING THE HTC WILDFIRE S (Marvelc/Marvel) WITH ANDROID VERSION 2.3.3/2.3.4/2.3.5 ONLY. WETHER IT WILL WORK WITH OTHER SYSTEMS NOT YET DETERMINED.
Thanks to ALL who have shared their knowledge of the issues surrounding rooting the HTC Wildfire S on PHANDROID and elsewhere, not least our very own CafeKampuchia whose thread was where I started. I have taken the liberty of using, changing, updating and/or editing certain steps from other users on PHANDROID and other sites purely because I don't want to spend two days writting this thread.
As I was/am a complete novice with the world of rooting I will start by saying I had a nightmare trying to make sense of all the countless comments, threads and technical jargen that is all over the net regarding the issues of rooting the wfs. I met with all kinds of problems, mostly because a lot of information was simply not explained to the novice, but more directed at developer stage guys. I will attempt to explain things a little bit better where necessary, but in all reality, you have to make sure you UNDERSTAND the instructions here and follow the steps AS THEY ARE WRITTEN. This is no "fast-fix", there is NO ONE-CLICK ROOTING SOFTWARE out there that is currently able to root ALL the wildfire s, to date I have tried thirteen methods, none worked. So, I can only advise you find some time, a few hours at least, and set your mind on having the patience to do this right.
STEP 1.
Before we even get into the phone rooting business, you will need to do some time consuming stuff first...
You will need SDK tools for Android, Java runtime, and HTC Sync installed on your Windows computer. The latest edition of the SDK is fine, but once you have set it up you should update through the SDK manager and install the platform 2.3.3
1. You only need to install HTC Sync for the drivers that come with it. But the program sometimes causes conflicts, so during this procedure, make sure it is not running. Open Task Manager in Windows and kill it. If you don’t use HTC Sync, you may also open Control Panel and uninstall it without uninstalling the drivers.
I am not here to help with the SDK etc. You need to have that all figured out and running before you proceed further.
2. Learn to HBOOT. You will need to know how to HBOOT the phone as it may be necessary to do this several times during the procedure. The simply method is this:
a) Power down the phone.
b) Once the phone is OFF, remove the battery and replace. Then holding down the volume DOWN button press the POWER button at the same time. You can release once the phone powers up.
c) You'll now be in the 'BOOTLOADER' screen and will see HBOOT in blue highlight and lower down you should see FASTBOOT, ECOVERY etc. You can move up or down in the menu screen using the Volume up/down key and select an item using the Power button on your phone.
Making sure you have not highlighted anything other than Fastboot you can now press the power button which will start up your phone as normal.
*** FASTBOOT USB <------ This is what you need to be on your phone when flashing recoveries. When in HBOOT, highlight FASTBOOT, then press power button. Once in FASTBOOT it is here that you attach your USB cable to the PC. Do not try to flash the recoveries in ANY OTHER STATUS OR IT WILL FAIL. ******
You will know you are in FASTBOOT as you see a screen with the pink ***UNLOCKED*** bar at the top, followed by device details. Below that you should see FASTBOOT highlighted in RED and lower down, BOOTLOADER highlighted in blue followed by REBOOT etc. Now if you attach your USB to the PC FASTBOOT should now become FASTBOOT USB after a few seconds.
Remember this procedure.
STEP 2.
NOW DO THIS...
Unlock your bootloader at htcdev.com
Go to htcdev.com and follow the procedure there to unlock your bootloader. This is the step that can void your warranty! But is necessary in order to proceeed.
You need your bootloader to state ***UNLOCKED*** at the top of the HBOOT SCREEN (If it is NOT unlocked you cannot proceed to root.)
STEP 3.
NOTE:Download the file root_assistant.zip Found at end of post.) Create a new folder that is easy to navigate to on your PC and the unzip the contents of the zip directly into your new folder. Name the folder 'Phone Root' or something.
NOW DO A BACKUP OF YOUR PHONE ... RIGHT NOW!
a) Before you begin UNMOUNT YOUR SD CARD ( Menu>>Settings>>SD & Storage>>Unmount SD Card .) Then you need to set your phone in debugging mode: menu>>settings>>applications>>developement>> check the box for debug mode.
Also you need to ensure 'fastboot' is checked: Menu>>settings>>power>>fastboot ...check the box...
Then finally, your 'connect to pc' needs to be set on "Charge Only" - menu>>settings>>connect to pc>>charge only <--- VERY IMPORTANT
b) Connect your phone via the USB to the PC, wait about 30 seconds.
c) Go to the ALL In One Kit folder located inside your new folder, open and launch the tool kit interface by clicking the root_assistant.exe icon in the folder.
d)Allow the program to start and DO NOT TOUCH YOUR PHONE UNTIL DIRECTED.
**** MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN FASTBOOT USB BEFORE PROCEEDING ****
e) Once started, on the tool kit interface look on the RIGHT hand side and select the TWRP for your phone, either GSM or CMDA or the 'OWN RECOVERY' (I Recommended TWRP v2.2.2.0 which is already set as "own Recovery" and works with both CDMA and GSM)
STEP 4.
*NOTE* Please do not be tempted to mess with other functions of the tool not mentioned here, EVEN IF YOUR FLASH FAILED. Try another recovery image or root SU until you get one that works.
a) With the correct TWRP select and ignoring EVERYTHING else, click the "FLASH RECOVERY" buttom underneath your selection on the Tool Kit interface. A command prompt window opens and does it's stuff...
Wait a while while the operation completes....
The recovery will now be installed unless you get errors, in which case you've done something wrong. Start again and read more carefully.
b) You can press any key on the command prompt to close it. If your phone has not automatically rebooted then reboot it yourself as normal.
IF you get stuck on the HTC screen after reboot, give at least 5 minutes for the recovery to start. It doesn't always work on first boot, so be patient. If after 10 minutes the phone still hasn't booted, do a HBOOT >> Fastboot >> Recovery ... hopefully it will work this time, again be patient. If no worrkky this time after waiting 10 minutes, do a HBOOT and start over using a different recovery. More details of changing recoveries in the tool kit can be found on README files in various locations in the Root Assistant directory.
c)Now repeat Step 1. a) + b)
STEP 5.
a) Once reconnected to the PC go back to the Root Assistant interface and look for the "Etras" window (Bottom Right Corner.) Select 'Perm Root' from the options and the click the "Run" button below the window.
b) Another command prompt will open and do it's magic and in no more than 30 seconds you should see "Successful" or something. You are now Rooted! Disconnect the Device from your PC. You can now use the tool kit interface to reboot the system or into recovery before you disconnect your USB. I suggest using the Reboot to Recovery choice at this point to check that TWRP installed correctly. NOTE: As with all new installtions when first flashed, it may take longer for the device to start up than normal.) Once twrp has started, check it out and remember you utilize the Backup before making any further changes!
STEP 6.
Check everything out. If you have not already check out recovery as noted above, or you are no longer connected via usb to the pc, do the following:
Remember how to HBOOT? If not look above and remind yourself, then Reboot the phone into HBOOT.
Once in HBOOT allow a few seconds for the PG image to load then once it's settled select "Recovery" in the menu using the volume up/down key and select using the power button. The phone should now load the recovery that you've just flashed.It may take a minute or two so be patient.
Once you see the recovery window open (Nice dark background with light blue tabs?) you can utilize the recovery however you chose and use the interface to install different ROMS etc.
To check for root first find out if the SU installed on the device! It will be in your applications if successful, if it is NOT there, you need to reboot, check again, and if still not there, TRY ANOTHER SU!
WELL DONE.
Check out the stock roms on my download page if you are uncertain of what to expect or simply want to try things out.
NOTE: I downloaded Link2sd from google play (Which needs Super User access) as a test to see if the phone actually rooted, and the prompt came up asking for super user access, which I granted, and the app connected without issue.
I hope all this helps at least some of you who may have experienced similar issues with rooting you HTC Wildfire S
If it helps don't forget to click THANKS!
DOWNLOAD:
root-assistant.zip
Thanks to ALL who have shared their knowledge of the issues surrounding rooting the HTC Wildfire S on PHANDROID and elsewhere, not least our very own CafeKampuchia whose thread was where I started. I have taken the liberty of using, changing, updating and/or editing certain steps from other users on PHANDROID and other sites purely because I don't want to spend two days writting this thread.
As I was/am a complete novice with the world of rooting I will start by saying I had a nightmare trying to make sense of all the countless comments, threads and technical jargen that is all over the net regarding the issues of rooting the wfs. I met with all kinds of problems, mostly because a lot of information was simply not explained to the novice, but more directed at developer stage guys. I will attempt to explain things a little bit better where necessary, but in all reality, you have to make sure you UNDERSTAND the instructions here and follow the steps AS THEY ARE WRITTEN. This is no "fast-fix", there is NO ONE-CLICK ROOTING SOFTWARE out there that is currently able to root ALL the wildfire s, to date I have tried thirteen methods, none worked. So, I can only advise you find some time, a few hours at least, and set your mind on having the patience to do this right.
STEP 1.
Before we even get into the phone rooting business, you will need to do some time consuming stuff first...
Before you begin, make sure that your computer can properly recognize the phone:
You will need SDK tools for Android, Java runtime, and HTC Sync installed on your Windows computer. The latest edition of the SDK is fine, but once you have set it up you should update through the SDK manager and install the platform 2.3.3
1. You only need to install HTC Sync for the drivers that come with it. But the program sometimes causes conflicts, so during this procedure, make sure it is not running. Open Task Manager in Windows and kill it. If you don’t use HTC Sync, you may also open Control Panel and uninstall it without uninstalling the drivers.
I am not here to help with the SDK etc. You need to have that all figured out and running before you proceed further.
2. Learn to HBOOT. You will need to know how to HBOOT the phone as it may be necessary to do this several times during the procedure. The simply method is this:
a) Power down the phone.
b) Once the phone is OFF, remove the battery and replace. Then holding down the volume DOWN button press the POWER button at the same time. You can release once the phone powers up.
c) You'll now be in the 'BOOTLOADER' screen and will see HBOOT in blue highlight and lower down you should see FASTBOOT, ECOVERY etc. You can move up or down in the menu screen using the Volume up/down key and select an item using the Power button on your phone.
Making sure you have not highlighted anything other than Fastboot you can now press the power button which will start up your phone as normal.
*** FASTBOOT USB <------ This is what you need to be on your phone when flashing recoveries. When in HBOOT, highlight FASTBOOT, then press power button. Once in FASTBOOT it is here that you attach your USB cable to the PC. Do not try to flash the recoveries in ANY OTHER STATUS OR IT WILL FAIL. ******
You will know you are in FASTBOOT as you see a screen with the pink ***UNLOCKED*** bar at the top, followed by device details. Below that you should see FASTBOOT highlighted in RED and lower down, BOOTLOADER highlighted in blue followed by REBOOT etc. Now if you attach your USB to the PC FASTBOOT should now become FASTBOOT USB after a few seconds.
Remember this procedure.
STEP 2.
NOW DO THIS...
Unlock your bootloader at htcdev.com
Go to htcdev.com and follow the procedure there to unlock your bootloader. This is the step that can void your warranty! But is necessary in order to proceeed.
You need your bootloader to state ***UNLOCKED*** at the top of the HBOOT SCREEN (If it is NOT unlocked you cannot proceed to root.)
STEP 3.
NOTE:Download the file root_assistant.zip Found at end of post.) Create a new folder that is easy to navigate to on your PC and the unzip the contents of the zip directly into your new folder. Name the folder 'Phone Root' or something.
NOW DO A BACKUP OF YOUR PHONE ... RIGHT NOW!
a) Before you begin UNMOUNT YOUR SD CARD ( Menu>>Settings>>SD & Storage>>Unmount SD Card .) Then you need to set your phone in debugging mode: menu>>settings>>applications>>developement>> check the box for debug mode.
Also you need to ensure 'fastboot' is checked: Menu>>settings>>power>>fastboot ...check the box...
Then finally, your 'connect to pc' needs to be set on "Charge Only" - menu>>settings>>connect to pc>>charge only <--- VERY IMPORTANT
b) Connect your phone via the USB to the PC, wait about 30 seconds.
c) Go to the ALL In One Kit folder located inside your new folder, open and launch the tool kit interface by clicking the root_assistant.exe icon in the folder.
d)Allow the program to start and DO NOT TOUCH YOUR PHONE UNTIL DIRECTED.
**** MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN FASTBOOT USB BEFORE PROCEEDING ****
e) Once started, on the tool kit interface look on the RIGHT hand side and select the TWRP for your phone, either GSM or CMDA or the 'OWN RECOVERY' (I Recommended TWRP v2.2.2.0 which is already set as "own Recovery" and works with both CDMA and GSM)
STEP 4.
*NOTE* Please do not be tempted to mess with other functions of the tool not mentioned here, EVEN IF YOUR FLASH FAILED. Try another recovery image or root SU until you get one that works.
a) With the correct TWRP select and ignoring EVERYTHING else, click the "FLASH RECOVERY" buttom underneath your selection on the Tool Kit interface. A command prompt window opens and does it's stuff...
Wait a while while the operation completes....
The recovery will now be installed unless you get errors, in which case you've done something wrong. Start again and read more carefully.
b) You can press any key on the command prompt to close it. If your phone has not automatically rebooted then reboot it yourself as normal.
IF you get stuck on the HTC screen after reboot, give at least 5 minutes for the recovery to start. It doesn't always work on first boot, so be patient. If after 10 minutes the phone still hasn't booted, do a HBOOT >> Fastboot >> Recovery ... hopefully it will work this time, again be patient. If no worrkky this time after waiting 10 minutes, do a HBOOT and start over using a different recovery. More details of changing recoveries in the tool kit can be found on README files in various locations in the Root Assistant directory.
c)Now repeat Step 1. a) + b)
STEP 5.
a) Once reconnected to the PC go back to the Root Assistant interface and look for the "Etras" window (Bottom Right Corner.) Select 'Perm Root' from the options and the click the "Run" button below the window.
b) Another command prompt will open and do it's magic and in no more than 30 seconds you should see "Successful" or something. You are now Rooted! Disconnect the Device from your PC. You can now use the tool kit interface to reboot the system or into recovery before you disconnect your USB. I suggest using the Reboot to Recovery choice at this point to check that TWRP installed correctly. NOTE: As with all new installtions when first flashed, it may take longer for the device to start up than normal.) Once twrp has started, check it out and remember you utilize the Backup before making any further changes!
STEP 6.
Check everything out. If you have not already check out recovery as noted above, or you are no longer connected via usb to the pc, do the following:
Remember how to HBOOT? If not look above and remind yourself, then Reboot the phone into HBOOT.
Once in HBOOT allow a few seconds for the PG image to load then once it's settled select "Recovery" in the menu using the volume up/down key and select using the power button. The phone should now load the recovery that you've just flashed.It may take a minute or two so be patient.
Once you see the recovery window open (Nice dark background with light blue tabs?) you can utilize the recovery however you chose and use the interface to install different ROMS etc.
To check for root first find out if the SU installed on the device! It will be in your applications if successful, if it is NOT there, you need to reboot, check again, and if still not there, TRY ANOTHER SU!
WELL DONE.
Check out the stock roms on my download page if you are uncertain of what to expect or simply want to try things out.
NOTE: I downloaded Link2sd from google play (Which needs Super User access) as a test to see if the phone actually rooted, and the prompt came up asking for super user access, which I granted, and the app connected without issue.
I hope all this helps at least some of you who may have experienced similar issues with rooting you HTC Wildfire S
If it helps don't forget to click THANKS!
DOWNLOAD:
root-assistant.zip
