Root S-OFF available

[teppic74]

Last night the hack to reflash hboot became available. This is normally impossible, but an exploit is used to replace it with a new version that allows S-OFF (security off), sometimes called full root.

Page is here:

AlphaRev

It's brand new software and IT CAN PERMANENTLY BRICK YOUR PHONE if it goes wrong.

 

[teppic74]

A big benefit of this is that if your phone won't boot and you don't have a goldcard, you should now be able to flash recovery directly (previously impossible), and from there install a new custom ROM.

Since all it does is flash hboot, any upgrade to a new official ROM will remove the change - which is going to be essential for warranty purposes (HTC won't be impressed if they see S-OFF).

 

[SUroot]

Wicked. Cheers.

 

[droidzone]

Wow..That was fast..Werent we discussing about wrecking phones with S-OFF just yesterday?

Have you taken the plunge?

Practically, once I do an S-OFF, what advantages can it provide? Can any of the existing apps take advantage of it?

 

[teppic74]

Apps won't benefit from S-OFF. It's useful for developers and for recovery/rooting.

 

[droidzone]

How so, for recovery/rooting?

 

[teppic74]

The bootloader normally only allows HTC-signed flash updates. With this you can flash unsigned ones, so you can directly flash recovery to the latest clockworkmod (even if your phone won't boot). Or you can just flash the images from an official ROM without needing a goldcard. And rooting any existing ROM is trivial.

 

[droidzone]

The bootloader normally only allows HTC-signed flash updates. With this you can flash unsigned ones, so you can directly flash recovery to the latest clockworkmod (even if your phone won't boot)

Hmm..If the phone wont boot, then at what stage can we flash it. Normally, we flash in boot, right? But if boot is corrupted would a computer recognize the device and assign drivers for it?

 

[teppic74]

The bootloader is a tiny bit of code that isn't part of the ROM or recovery (it loads either of those). So if you screw up your ROM and recovery, the bootloader is fine, and still lets you flash. That's why there's a risk here. If this corrupts your bootloader, there is absolutely no way you'll ever be able to switch the phone on again let alone flash it. The risk is small, but it is there, and that always needs to be made very clear.

 

[droidzone]

And Alpharev is supposed to be a patch over the bootloader!

One more thing..Alpharev says it will be overwritten when an RUU is flashed. Does that mean an RUU flashing process is also dangerous, since it also writes to HBOOT (Whether official or not)?

 

[teppic74]

The RUU process flashes the bootloader, yes, but it does so in a very secure way that isn't using a security exploit, so it's as safe as possible.

 

[anoniemouse]

Downloaded that for future use earlier today, then came in here & saw your post.

 

[Rastaman-FB]

this is big

 

[DesirableHTC]

I have S-Off! Don't see many benefits atm, but im sure it will come in handy at some point..... My benefit is being able to delete pesky apps that are on the rom, footprints, amazon MP3 etc...

 

[SUroot]

I have S-Off! Don't see many benefits atm, but im sure it will come in handy at some point..... My benefit is being able to delete pesky apps that are on the rom, footprints, amazon MP3 etc...

You can do that with adb shell. Also, you can just remove the apps from the rom.zip file and reflash it over your existing rom. Thats what I do.

 

[DesirableHTC]

You can do that with adb shell. Also, you can just remove the apps from the rom.zip file and reflash it over your existing rom. Thats what I do.

but root explorer is easier

 

[SUroot]

fair point

 

[sookster54]

I just rooted my stock 2.2 with unrevoked 3.21 in Linux and went smoothly, thing is unrevoked had "disable security" checked, I'm not sure if it actually disabled it or not, I would like it kept turned on and not sure how to find out if it is or not.

Nevermind, booted into bootloader and I see "S-ON", good.

 

[rx93]

Got my phone S-OFF in less than 10 mins.

Now I can customize my boot screen.

 

[landwomble]

Yep, it's worth doing. Custom boot screen is nice (I added my email address/landline number to it), having proper R/W to /system whilst phone booted very nice indeed. Also massive convenience when flashing unsigned files etc.

 

[rx93]

Anyone notices that phone runs smooth and faster after S-OFF? Mine does.

 

[teppic74]

No it doesn't. It's completely impossible.

 

[sookster54]

Anyone notices that phone runs smooth and faster after S-OFF? Mine does.

Placebo effect, all it does is disables the need to install signed zips.

 

[frechet4]

I just want to be clear...this is currently only for the GSM desire? I was directed here from a different thread where I indicated I have a CDMA (just for the record)