Root HTC Unlock Bootloader = Root?

[toasty]

Pardon what may be a silly question, but using the HTC Bootloader Unlock tool wasn't an option when I rooted my EVO, so I haven't really had much exposure to it. Is there any functional difference between using HTC's tool and rooting a device through some other means? Does Sprint cripple the tool in any respect?

Thanks

 

[Rxpert83]

There are many functional differences.

You CAN have a custom recovery and CAN flash custom roms/kernels/ect. The process for this isnt always quite as simple though.

You DONT have S-OFF, so flashing things through the bootloader is mostly a no-go. (radios/splashscreens/bootanimations/ect)

 

[EarlyMon]

Very often, you can get around the radio problem by unrooting, flashing an OTA image, then re-rooting.

It takes more steps, but in the end, most customizations are do-able. Not all, as Rxpert says tho.

 

[regaw_leinad]

Very often, you can get around the radio problem by unrooting, flashing an OTA image, then re-rooting.

It takes more steps, but in the end, most customizations are do-able. Not all, as Rxpert says tho.

Agree with this, I sure wish HTCDev unlock was a true S-OFF though.. would make things much easier.

 

[toasty]

Thanks for the info. I do seem to recall that if you use the HTC tool, the folks at Sprint will be able to tell that you did it, even if you subsequently unroot it. Does anyone have any intel on how Sprint handles that? Do they automatically void your warranty, or does it depend upon what all you've done to it? Although my phone is rooted, I feel like the things I do that require root are pretty milquetoast as compared to people that use it to overclock and things like that that have more potential to harm the phone.

 

[Granite1]

Thanks for the info. I do seem to recall that if you use the HTC tool, the folks at Sprint will be able to tell that you did it, even if you subsequently unroot it. Does anyone have any intel on how Sprint handles that? Do they automatically void your warranty, or does it depend upon what all you've done to it? Although my phone is rooted, I feel like the things I do that require root are pretty milquetoast as compared to people that use it to overclock and things like that that have more potential to harm the phone.

On the OG evo the bootloader was "water marked", it would read "Unlocked" at the top in purple or pink, I have trouble with certain colors . I know the HTC warranty will be void if you do this, but as long as you have Sprint's insurance, the water mark won't matter.

 

[Doomstang]

First step for the One X over on ATT...they've gained root access although the bootloader remains locked. If there is no HTC Unlock in the future, I'm assuming they will find a way to S-Off (which could help us achieve that in the future).

One-Click Root Now Available For AT&T's HTC One X

 

[toasty]

On the OG evo the bootloader was "water marked", it would read "Unlocked" at the top in purple or pink, I have trouble with certain colors . I know the HTC warranty will be void if you do this, but as long as you have Sprint's insurance, the water mark won't matter.

Thank you, although I now see that I misworded my question. Regardless of the status of the HTC warranty, what I meant to ask is will Sprint decline to provide technical support for your phone on account of the fact that you've rooted it? We do have the protection plan, but I'm more talking about the sort of support you need when you haven't bricked the phone, but it still isn't working as it should. Do they have a blanket, "well, you're rooted, so you're on your own" policy, or is it more of a case by case sort of thing?

 

[EarlyMon]

Thank you, although I now see that I misworded my question. Regardless of the status of the HTC warranty, what I meant to ask is will Sprint decline to provide technical support for your phone on account of the fact that you've rooted it? We do have the protection plan, but I'm more talking about the sort of support you need when you haven't bricked the phone, but it still isn't working as it should. Do they have a blanket, "well, you're rooted, so you're on your own" policy, or is it more of a case by case sort of thing?

Sprint has an official policy to support rooted phones so long as the issue is clearly hardware, and not software related.

No one on the forums has reported any shenanigans by Sprint since they instituted the new policy last year, and everyone has seemed happy, getting protection coverage for dead screens, digitizers, radios - all stuff that root wouldn't break.

 

[CapThrowback]

First step for the One X over on ATT...they've gained root access although the bootloader remains locked. If there is no HTC Unlock in the future, I'm assuming they will find a way to S-Off (which could help us achieve that in the future).

One-Click Root Now Available For AT&T's HTC One X

Speaking of watermarks, though - this one marks the Bootloader with the word "**TAMPERED**" at the top .

 

[EarlyMon]

Watermarks? We don't need no stinkin' watermarks!

Srsly tho - it'll be pretty easy to tell mine's tampered with anyway.

I'll wait the two weeks before touching it to make sure it's not lemony hardware in any way and then just go for HTCdev unlock (with S-on).

And when S-off comes, I'll be doing that, too.

 

[suprmallet]

Would the HTC unlock allow me to install wifi tether? At the moment that's my top priority.

 

[Scotlac]

It should since that doesn't require anything other than installing a root dependent app.

 

[EarlyMon]

Unlock is step one, root is step two, then install root-dependent apps.

 

[Scotlac]

Unlock is step one, root is step two, then install root-dependent apps.

Yeah, sorry.... that's what I meant. Root with HTC unlock versus S-off.

 

[Granite1]

Unlock with HTC debt will allow you to install a custom recovery and flash roms. Kernels are a little tricky, at least on the 3D. We'll see how kernels work on the El T.

It doesn't currently allow you to flash stuff from the bootloader unless of course its an official ruu, etc.

I wouldn't worry about the s-off aspect right off the bat. Someone will figure a way around it.

 

[AM2]

I've got the EVO - ask me anything! - Page 15 - Android Forums at AndroidCentral.com

post #366 shows EL TEvo on the htc unlocked boot loader thing and the poster says it works fine. this is a good thing right???? what exactly does it mean for those getting the phone in terms of root etc.???

 

[EarlyMon]

I've got the EVO - ask me anything! - Page 15 - Android Forums at AndroidCentral.com

post #366 shows EL TEvo on the htc unlocked boot loader thing and the poster says it works fine. this is a good thing right???? what exactly does it mean for those getting the phone in terms of root etc.???

http://androidforums.com/evo-4g-lte-all-things-root/545001-htc-unlock-bootloader-root.html

Means it will be easy to root, harder to tinker with.

 

[AM2]

There are many functional differences.

You CAN have a custom recovery and CAN flash custom roms/kernels/ect. The process for this isnt always quite as simple though.

You DONT have S-OFF, so flashing things through the bootloader is mostly a no-go. (radios/splashscreens/bootanimations/ect)

so flashing things like animations and splash screens seem more on the cosmetic side. radios on the other hand seem to do more with function. are the stock radios often replaced with better ones with better signal strength etc. I'm rooted and just primarily flash roms and mods here and there. I think I've always assumed that whatever came in the rom I liked, so long as the phone worked to my liking, was all I needed. have I been missing out in some way???

also if this isn't too technical and silly of a question, why can't/aren't all things flashed through whatever is used to flash roms,mods,kernels etc.????

 

[dan330]

http://androidforums.com/evo-4g-lte-all-things-root/545001-htc-unlock-bootloader-root.html

Means it will be easy to root, harder to tinker with.

?? unlock bootloader = easy root, but harder to tinker with??
why?

 

[El Presidente]

?? unlock bootloader = easy root, but harder to tinker with??
why?

An unlocked bootloader isn't full S-OFF so there are certain partitions that can't be written to in recovery. For example, you can't write to the boot partition so flashing a kernel has to be done manually using fastboot commands.

At the moment, when I flash a ROM, I have to boot to bootloader, flash the boot.img file using fastboot, erase the cache using fastboot, then go into recovery to flash my ROM. With S-OFF it can all be done in recovery.

 

[WifiMaxed]

An unlocked bootloader isn't full S-OFF so there are certain partitions that can't be written to in recovery. For example, you can't write to the boot partition so flashing a kernel has to be done manually using fastboot commands.

At the moment, when I flash a ROM, I have to boot to bootloader, flash the boot.img file using fastboot, erase the cache using fastboot, then go into recovery to flash my ROM. With S-OFF it can all be done in recovery.

ATT OneX was shipped locked down, I can only guess that was a ATT thing. Sprint, thankfully stayed true to OG EVO heritage on being customizable. I just think this just one more cool thing Sprint did for LTEVO.
Is it Friday yet?

Peeps over @ XDA are doing happy dance and jazzed up about LTEVO being shipped unlocked

EVO 4G LTE bootloader not on full locked down from SPRINT like AT&T ONE X - xda-developers

 

[El Presidente]

ATT OneX was shipped locked down, I can only guess that was a ATT thing. Sprint, thankfully stayed true to OG EVO heritage on being customizable. I just think this just one more cool thing Sprint did for LTEVO.
Is it Friday yet?

Peeps over @ XDA are doing happy dance and jazzed up about LTEVO being shipped unlocked

EVO 4G LTE bootloader not on full locked down from SPRINT like AT&T ONE X - xda-developers

Awesome!

I think the AT&T OX has root now and I think the International version is close to full S-OFF. Hopefully you guys won't be waiting too long for a full S-OFF solution. S-OFF looks much better than the Pink "UNLOCKED" (In HTC speak it translates as "This device has no warranty") atop my bootloader.

In the interim, a htcdev unlock is better than nothing!

 

[Granite1]

Awesome!

I think the AT&T OX has root now and I think the International version is close to full S-OFF. Hopefully you guys won't be waiting too long for a full S-OFF solution. S-OFF looks much better than the Pink "UNLOCKED" (In HTC speak it translates as "This device has no warranty") atop my bootloader.

In the interim, a htcdev unlock is better than nothing!

Agreed!! Thanks for giving a little better clarification above El Prez!!

I'll probably be using HTC Dev until we can get S-OFF....who am I kidding, I'll be using it!!

Also I agree it's pretty cool the phones are being shipped unlocked. No need to go through the extra step to get your flash fix.