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Root [CDMA] Mr Miyagi: S-ON/S-OFF

toad6386

toad6386

Android Enthusiast
All right, gents (and ladies), here's the deal: HBoot 1.5, S-On, HTC Unlocked. I'm not a flash-a-holic by any means. I've been unlocked since late AUG and only on my 3rd ROM (d3rp, Zr3d, now CommonSense). I'm trying to break out of N00b mode:o, but just can't get there, yet.

I've been itching to go S-Off, but now am wondering if the reward would be worth the (knowingly minimal) risk. I was planing on going S-Off and flash the 1.58 RUU/FW to go on to other ROMs like Cool's or Viper's. But now that life got in the way of doing that, it seems like staying on 1.5 may be the best way to go, especially with JB ROMs (requiring 1.5 or lower) breaking out like crazy. I also haven't had ANY issues with flashing any ICS ROMs (I've been lucky like Dragonslayer).

Oh, and I guess it's fair to say I'm somewhat a klutz (my wife would argue with the "somewhat" :rolleyes:):
I forgot to nandroid (what's that? 20 lashes :o) when I went between d3rp and Zr3d.
I also neglected to attach my mic ribbon cable, and broke my volume down button (no idea how I managed that) when I replaced my digitizer (how many lashes?).

So, all things considered, is it worth the risk going S-OFF, or should I just be thankful and not mess with success? Thanks to all in advance, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! :D
 
You know what, I am hopeful, that Scotty comes in and answers this for you, he will tell you in great detail the benefit of going S-OFF ;)
 
DonB said:
You know what, I am hopeful, that Scotty comes in and answers this for you, he will tell you in great detail the benefit of going S-OFF ;)
Click to expand...

I figured someone would. :) I just don't want to bork my phone up and have to commandeer my daughter's SGSII. Besides it "ruining her life," I really don't care for it. But, I suppose it'd still be better than my *gulp* old Pre (not due for upgrade til APR), but rather have my working 3VO! Thanks!
 
I agree with DonB! Scotty will have great detailed explanations for you! I will just throw in my two cents.

I think it's definitely worth the risk. I have not heard one single case of permanent damage from the wire trick. Being s-off gives you more freedom in the way you can flash things (without a pc) and it also lets you change things that you can't while s-on.

You can definitely upgrade to 1.58 while s-on but you wouldn't be able to go back without being s-off. While s-off you can easily swap hboots on the fly among other things like custom splash screens easier flashing, changing radios etc etc. Scotty is the man to talk to if you want a lot of details but my personal opinion is, it's definitely worth it.

Ps. When you say you're not a flashaholic, you really mean you're not a flashaholic YET! :p
It's only a matter of time ;)
 
Brian706 said:
Ps. When you say you're not a flashaholic, you really mean you're not a flashaholic YET! :p
It's only a matter of time ;)
Click to expand...

That's another of my fears :D And really barely have time to do things as they are now, much less if I get an open account at ROMs-R-Us!
 
S off is IMO well worth it. Brian said it pretty well. In addition to making it easier to.flash roms(since recovery can now write to boot),you can easily just install the firmware you need to run a particular Rom.

Additionally,you can modify any partition,and go backwards in.firmware versions.

The additional advantages of s off make it much safer,IMO,since it gives greater options to recover a soft bricked device.

The only downside is you'll need to exercise caution,and check the integrity of files you download,since a bad bootloader or.radio flash can leave your device permantly dead and unrecoverable :eek:

Additional info:
http://androidforums.com/cdma-evo-3...fo-faq-root-s-off-cdma-evo-3d-all-hboots.html
 
scotty85 said:
The only downside is you'll need to exercise caution,and check the integrity of files you download,since a bad bootloader or.radio flash can leave your device permantly dead and unrecoverable :eek:

Additional info:
http://androidforums.com/cdma-evo-3...fo-faq-root-s-off-cdma-evo-3d-all-hboots.html
Click to expand...

Not liking the possibility of "it's worse than dead, Jim," but I think y'all got me back on the S-OFF train... Now to install that McFly/Doc Brown app and find a flux capacitor to dig up time to do it! Thanks!
 
toad6386 said:
Not liking the possibility of "it's worse than dead, Jim," but I think y'all got me back on the S-OFF train... Now to install that McFly/Doc Brown app and find a flux capacitor to dig up time to do it! Thanks!
Click to expand...

All you need is an md5 checker. It takes under a minute to verify the integrity of your download. And you likely won't be changing bootloader or radios that often. Only when necessary like when switching between gb and ics because they require different firmware.
You can find links to md5 checkers and all the different hboot and firmware downloads in this thread: http://androidforums.com/cdma-evo-3...hboot-firmware-all-downloads.html#post5208921
 
Since this is kinda up the alley I'm looking I thought I'd post it here instead of starting a new thread.

I'm on hboot 1.4. S-off. Should I flash the 1.58? Will my s-off carry over? I've been having some rom compatibility issues.

Specifically, I flashed the Viper rom for the 3d and it boot looped. The only thing I could think of was the hboot. I flashed it ok and certainly did the wipe (data and system) but somehow it didn't take.

Once I upgrade to the 1.58 will I be limited to the roms that I can choose from? I'm on a Sprint 3d flashed to Boost.
 
You will not lose s-off. Most ics roms require the 1.58 hboot and really you should also flash all the firmware bits along with it. You are s-off so if you want to go back, you simply flash back to whatever bootloader and firmware you want whenever you want to!


kolosus said:
Since this is kinda up the alley I'm looking I thought I'd post it here instead of starting a new thread.

I'm on hboot 1.4. S-off. Should I flash the 1.58? Will my s-off carry over? I've been having some rom compatibility issues.

Specifically, I flashed the Viper rom for the 3d and it boot looped. The only thing I could think of was the hboot. I flashed it ok and certainly did the wipe (data and system) but somehow it didn't take.

Once I upgrade to the 1.58 will I be limited to the roms that I can choose from? I'm on a Sprint 3d flashed to Boost.
Click to expand...
 
Just reporting back that I finally took the S-OFF plunge and am now FREEEEEE!!! :D Did the wire trick, and once I understood the timing, was a piece of cake (devil's food, with choc icing) :).
Of course, it's too late for me to try a new ROM tonight, but I'm thinking I might try Viper's tomorrow. PA is too much new trick for this old dog just yet! :p
Thanks for all the support and encouragement!
 
toad6386 said:
Just reporting back that I finally took the S-OFF plunge and am now FREEEEEE!!! :D Did the wire trick, and once I understood the timing, was a piece of cake (devil's food, with choc icing) :).
Of course, it's too late for me to try a new ROM tonight, but I'm thinking I might try Viper's tomorrow. PA is too much new trick for this old dog just yet! :p
Thanks for all the support and encouragement!
Click to expand...

Congrats!

I'm almost considering going s off if I get around to downloading a stock rom.

What kind of wire did you use?

DS
 
dragonslayer95 said:
Well I've had no reason to yet. Still don't lol.

Just want to so ill be S off :p

DS
Click to expand...
it will make your life a bunch easier :smokingsomb: youll be able to easily install older firmware,makeing a wider secection of roms availble. plus you can whip yourself up a sexy splash screen,with dragons and/or nekkid womens :smokingsomb:

plus you can install a patched or eng hboot if you ever need to,making for a much wider variety of options to restore a soft bricked device.

another big bonus,is it will changed your relocked/unlocked watermark back to locked,thus removing all visual signs of having unlocked,wich is good if you still have factory warranty :cool: (just make sure not to re-unlock after s-off)
 
scotty85 said:
it will make your life a bunch easier :smokingsomb: youll be able to easily install older firmware,makeing a wider secection of roms availble. plus you can whip yourself up a sexy splash screen,with dragons and/or nekkid womens :smokingsomb:

plus you can install a patched or eng hboot if you ever need to,making for a much wider variety of options to restore a soft bricked device.

another big bonus,is it will changed your relocked/unlocked watermark back to locked,thus removing all visual signs of having unlocked,wich is good if you still have factory warranty :cool: (just make sure not to re-unlock after s-off)
Click to expand...

Well the thing is, I've been able to run ics and jb roms without flashing different firmware and/or hboot along with changing my splash, nor even separately flashing boot.img as s on users need to do.

The only thing that does peek my interest is being able to relock without it actually saying "relocked" in case I have to do a return.

DS
 
dragonslayer95 said:
I nandroid before even flashing your icons :p

Hey what kind of wire would suffice enough to use?

DS
Click to expand...

I didn't have any decent gauged wire. I ended up using alligator clips and a paperclip.
alligator_small.jpg


A pair of clips like that with an unbent paperclip attached to one end to stick in the hole, and just touched the other clip to the sd bracket.

Any wire will probably do that is similar in thickness to a paperclip. I could only scrounge up some super thin wire that was not sufficient enough to get the job done. That's why I moved on to the clips.


Also, you can use just a paperclip with some electrical tape so that you can hold it.
 
Hmm ive heard before that someone even used a bread tie to get the job done which probably only thing ill have at my disposale. Just have to see.

Clips just now showing up, you went the long haul just to get s off :p
 
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