Root ENG S-Off?!?

[D-U-R-X]

I rooted my phone over the weekend, having finally been able to downgrade (wouldn't believe how long that took me).

I rooted my phone, as I want to install custom roms on my phone and knew I'd have to Radio S-Off in order to do this... did this using the easy S-Off tool on my pc... so far so good! I installed ROM Manager (and through this got Clockworkmod done).

When I've been looking around at various different roms to flash on to my phone, I have seen a few that say that I need ENG S-Off... as I'm new to all of this sort of thing AND I've seen loads of people on loads of sites that say not to ENG S-Off unless you know EXACTLY what you're doing, as it can brick your phone.

So... can someone tell me if I need ENG S-Off or not?

 

[Xyro]

I've wondered the same thing too.

 

[D-U-R-X]

I've wondered the same thing too.

Well, at least it's not just because I'm new to this whole thing that I don't know the answer - I guess, Xyro that, being a moderator, you have a bit of experience in this sort of area.

Have you flashed custom roms?

 

[Xyro]

Well, at least it's not just because I'm new to this whole thing that I don't know the answer - I guess, Xyro that, being a moderator, you have a bit of experience in this sort of area.

Have you flashed custom roms?

Well I had a lot of experience with my previous phone, a HTC Hero, and most of the same principles apply to the DHD. But S-Off is probably the only thing that's new to me - my old phone must have been unsecured from the start, since you could flash radios and ROMs straight away.

But yeah, I rooted and ENG S-Offed my DHD the day I got it Currently I'm on the cyanogen custom ROM.

 

[D-U-R-X]

I rooted and ENG S-Offed my DHD the day I got it Currently I'm on the cyanogen custom ROM.

I had issues downgrading to 1.32 (as per my thread) - problem was more to do with creating a goldcard - the downgrade went fine once I'd created a goldcard properly!

Temp, then perm-rooted using visionary (no problems)

Radio S-Offed using the Easy S-Off tool (again, no problems)

It looks relatively straight forward to ENG S-Off, but I'm just a little worried... don't wanna brick my phone! Was it as easy as it looks to do?!?

 

[SB13X]

The ENG HBOOT gives more flexibility in that you can use fastboot commands. The HBOOT for lack of a better comparison is akin to a PC BIOS. Its the software that acts as the bridge between the hardware and software and ensures everything works including the power button.

Now in the same way that if a BIOS flash went wrong, the PC would fail to boot up. The same happens with the phone now the difference is that on a PC MOBO you have easy access to it and can usually wipe the BIOS by shifting a jumper and it will reset to its own backup.

Now I'm not all up on my phones internals but I'm guessing even if you opened it up those same jumpers won't be available to reset the HBOOT sector and its probably a case of removing a chip and replacing it meaning the repair cost would outweigh a new handset. RESULT = PAPERWEIGHT.

 

[Xyro]

I had issues downgrading to 1.32 (as per my thread) - problem was more to do with creating a goldcard - the downgrade went fine once I'd created a goldcard properly!

Temp, then perm-rooted using visionary (no problems)

Radio S-Offed using the Easy S-Off tool (again, no problems)

It looks relatively straight forward to ENG S-Off, but I'm just a little worried... don't wanna brick my phone! Was it as easy as it looks to do?!?

Yeah.... goldcards are horrible. I had to do it manually and use a hex editor on the sdcard when I made one for my old phone - there weren't any of the automated tools back then. Luckily my DHD came with a rootable firmware. I saw your thread though, I'm glad you stuck at it

There's another of those tools for ENG S-Off, so yes it's very easy. You just need to be careful with what you do with your phone from then on. For instance, I believe having ENG S-off allows for a more convenient method of flashing a radio, but one that can also brick your phone if you did something silly like take the battery out during the process.

 

[D-U-R-X]

The ENG HBOOT gives more flexibility in that you can use fastboot commands. The HBOOT for lack of a better comparison is akin to a PC BIOS. Its the software that acts as the bridge between the hardware and software and ensures everything works including the power button.

Now in the same way that if a BIOS flash went wrong, the PC would fail to boot up. The same happens with the phone now the difference is that on a PC MOBO you have easy access to it and can usually wipe the BIOS by shifting a jumper and it will reset to its own backup.

Now I'm not all up on my phones internals but I'm guessing even if you opened it up those same jumpers won't be available to reset the HBOOT sector and its probably a case of removing a chip and replacing it meaning the repair cost would outweigh a new handset. RESULT = PAPERWEIGHT.

That, I think, is the best explination I have seen on the net - I wasn't 100% sure and, although I'm not a computer whizz, this has explained what ENG HBoot does!

Yeah.... goldcards are horrible. I had to do it manually and use a hex editor on the sdcard when I made one for my old phone - there weren't any of the automated tools back then. Luckily my DHD came with a rootable firmware. I saw your thread though, I'm glad you stuck at it

Me too - just looking forward to flashing roms now... want to have something a little different to my mates/to standard roms!

There's another of those tools for ENG S-Off, so yes it's very easy.

That's great - thought I was going to have to go through the process of using cmd prompt and that there was a risk of bricking the phone whilst trying to get ENG S-Off (I'm sure there is, but if there's a tool to do it, then it should be pretty straight forward)!

You just need to be careful with what you do with your phone from then on. For instance, I believe having ENG S-off allows for a more convenient method of flashing a radio, but one that can also brick your phone if you did something silly like take the battery out during the process.

I'll just make sure that, any time I'm flashing anything, the DHD is fully charged and that I follow all instructions/backup/etc.

When it comes to flashing, it should be pretty straight forward though, using clockworkmod?

 

[Xyro]

Ah, that makes sense. The radio flashing method I was talking about uses fastboot commands.

I have heard reports of people bricking their phones and it was the motherboard that they needed replacing.

Yeah, ROM manager is very convenient. You pretty much tell it what ROM you want and let it get on with it.

 

[SB13X]

Ah, that makes sense. The radio flashing method I was talking about uses fastboot commands.

I have heard reports of people bricking their phones and it was the motherboard that they needed replacing.

Yeah, ROM manager is very convenient. You pretty much tell it what ROM you want and let it get on with it.

Thought as much why they can't just solder a couple of contacts that when bridged reverses the problem to a backup on a chip somewhere baffles me. Suppose it would be there service centre staff out of a job lol.

 

[Xyro]

Thought as much why they can't just solder a couple of contacts that when bridged reverses the problem to a backup on a chip somewhere baffles me. Suppose it would be there service centre staff out of a job lol.

I have heard that certain phones have secret recovery screens accessible only when you insert a certain USB plug and connect the right things. Some people have even made their own to fix their bricked devices. People were discussing them when clockwork started bricking phones a few weeks ago, although the same thing doesn't seem to exist on the DHD.

 

[D-U-R-X]

There's another of those tools for ENG S-Off, so yes it's very easy.

Just been having a look for the ENG S-Off tool, but can't seem to find one - always seems to bring up the Radio S-Off tool... could you let me know where you got it from?

 

[Xyro]

Just been having a look for the ENG S-Off tool, but can't seem to find one - always seems to bring up the Radio S-Off tool... could you let me know where you got it from?

It's by the same guy on XDA. I'm pretty sure he mentions it in the OP of his radio s off tool thread.

I can't get the link right now, but when I can get to a PC I'll find it for you if you haven't got it yet.

 

[D-U-R-X]

It's by the same guy on XDA. I'm pretty sure he mentions it in the OP of his radio s off tool thread.

I can't get the link right now, but when I can get to a PC I'll find it for you if you haven't got it yet.

I'll check it out when I get home n let you know if not!

 

[Xyro]

Here it is: [TOOL] One click ENG S-OFF - xda-developers

 

[D-U-R-X]

Here it is: [TOOL] One click ENG S-OFF - xda-developers

lol - you beat me to it... only just back home - will have a look at this now!

 

[D-U-R-X]

Xyro - before I go through with this, I hvae had a look at the link and instructions:


So, in detail, the process goes like this:

• Install Visionary
• Open Visionary and tap temproot, then attempt permroot now. Your device will reboot.
• Connect your phone to a computer (make sure you have USB Debugging enabled. Connect charge only!)
• Open my "Desire HD easy s-off.exe", click "S-OFF it"! Allow possible SuperUser request on your phone.
• There could be force closes after the process, just reboot and everything will be fine.
• Done. (Remember to click the thanks button)
• Now that your device is S-OFF, and you can get Rom manager from the market, which will install a ClockWorkMod recovery for you. Just open it up and tap "Flash ClockworkMod recovery".

It can't be as simple as it seems... as I'm already rooted, all I need to do is open the easy s-off program, tick "I have radio s-off" and then click the S-Off It button?!?!

Sorry, but you can't be too cautious!!

 

[Xyro]

Yeah, I told you it was simple

 

[D-U-R-X]

Nice one... just gonna leave my DHD on charge for a bit, then get on with that... true android freedom FTW!!

 

[D-U-R-X]

Currently I'm on the cyanogen custom ROM.

Which version? Are you running CM7? It's a gingerbread rom, isn't it? Is it any good?? (sorry for so many questions!!)

 

[Xyro]

Yeah, it's a very good rom. Cyanogen basically create their own vanilla version of android, with a load of optimisations and extra settings, and then it's ported to just about every rootable phone under the sun.

CM7 is a vanilla (i.e, it has no HTC Sense) rom based on 2.3. I use the nightly (i.e. potentially buggy) builds, but the most recent stable version is 7.0.3 I think.

 

[D-U-R-X]

Yeah, it's a very good rom. Cyanogen basically create their own vanilla version of android, with a load of optimisations and extra settings, and then it's ported to just about every rootable phone under the sun.

CM7 is a vanilla (i.e, it has no HTC Sense) rom based on 2.3. I use the nightly (i.e. potentially buggy) builds, but the most recent stable version is 7.0.3 I think.

Great - that's just the info I needed. Been thinking of trying custom roms for a while... think I'll try 7.0.3 first!!

 

[D-U-R-X]

All done... fully rooted, and fully S-Off!!

Going to download CM7... can I just check - do I need to flash a new radio for that or is it just a case of download the ZIP, put it in the root of the SD card and use clockworkmod?

 

[SB13X]

All done... fully rooted, and fully S-Off!!

Going to download CM7... can I just check - do I need to flash a new radio for that or is it just a case of download the ZIP, put it in the root of the SD card and use clockworkmod?

Download CM7 from within ROM Manager and just let it do all the hard work for you.

 

[D-U-R-X]

Download CM7 from within ROM Manager and just let it do all the hard work for you.

Nice one... was a little worried that I was going to have to mess around with flashing a new radio.

Will get on with that once I've done a complete backup of my phone/apps!