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Root Branded or Unbranded

V

vagueadonis

Newbie
Hello All,

I need help figuring out if my phone is branded or unbranded. I bought my HD in China in April last year. From the physical appearance and the the apps which were pre-installed, it didn't give me an idea that there is a possibility that it can be branded. I happened to read the root notes on the forums and realized I need to check the same software version. Here is my current software information:

Android Version 2.3.5
HTC Sense - 3.0
Software Number - 3.13.832.4

Unfortunately in the root threat I did not see this particular software number among the 3 or 4 which were listed.

Would anyone be kind enough to assist me with this? I need to clarify and confirm before I root so I can accordingly create a gold card if required.
 
Welcome to AF! :)

As far as I'm aware, the Ace Hack Kit creates the goldcard for you so you don't need to do anything.

You are branded btw. Whilst you might not have the network apps on there, the only truly unbranded handsets have software versions following this format: x.xx.405.x
 
@El Presidente Thank you so much for your assistance.

@D-U-R-X Thank you to you too for replying.

This would be my first time rooting an android phone. Since mine is a branded phone and Ace Hack Kit will do the job, I have a quick question. I have done extensive research and maybe that's what has confused me a little. Is there anything particular I need to keep in mind while using Ace Hack?

I understand I need to download the drivers and unzip them. Do I need to downgrade to Froyo and downgrade any other versions before I proceed with the root? Similarly I also read notes about having to uninstall HTC Sense and uninstalling any Apps which connect to other phones etc (vague).

If there is anything which you guys think I really need to keep an eye out for, I will be greatly thankful as I in no circumstances wish to brick my phone. LOL. I am planning on getting CynogenMod for the HD.
 
Using the Hack kit with Windows can cause people a bit of trouble sometimes, the best way to do it is to use a Linux live CD (or Mac OSX if you have it) and it should work without a problem.

Below is taken from the XDA thread -

Windows Prep:

  1. WINDOWS: IMPORTANT - disable all malware (Antivirus detection etc) detection before unarchiving the hack kit. Keep it off thoughout the hack kit processes. Many Windows malware detection programs report false positives, deleting or binding critical files required by the process.
  2. WINDOWS: IMPORTANT - Remove or disable all services and daemons you can, particulary anything Apple, blackberry, PDAnet, Microsoft Mobile, anything USB not required for this task, any resource hogs. Also disconnect all un-needed USB devices and USB HUBs.
  3. Remove HTC Sync and drivers.
  4. Only after completing the above steps, install the drivers contained in the Hack Kit (see the Effen Manual) BEFORE plugging in the phone.
  5. Connect the phone to the computer via a USB port connected to the system board - not a front panel port or a hub or extention port.
  6. Verify successful android device driver installation in device manager.


Do I need to downgrade to Froyo and downgrade any other versions before I proceed with the root?
Click to expand...

No, it will do it for you :)

I haven't checked the Hack kit in a while, but last time I looked it seemed like using it with Sense 3.0 would wipe all the data off your phone in the process (not the SD card though) so make sure you back everything up if you can. I can't confirm if it does this or not anymore as there are new version of the kit, but it's better to be on the safe side and do it anyway
 
CDPlant said:
Using the Hack kit with Windows can cause people a bit of trouble sometimes, the best way to do it is to use a Linux live CD (or Mac OSX if you have it) and it should work without a problem.

Below is taken from the XDA thread -

Windows Prep:

  1. WINDOWS: IMPORTANT - disable all malware (Antivirus detection etc) detection before unarchiving the hack kit. Keep it off thoughout the hack kit processes. Many Windows malware detection programs report false positives, deleting or binding critical files required by the process.
  2. WINDOWS: IMPORTANT - Remove or disable all services and daemons you can, particulary anything Apple, blackberry, PDAnet, Microsoft Mobile, anything USB not required for this task, any resource hogs. Also disconnect all un-needed USB devices and USB HUBs.
  3. Remove HTC Sync and drivers.
  4. Only after completing the above steps, install the drivers contained in the Hack Kit (see the Effen Manual) BEFORE plugging in the phone.
  5. Connect the phone to the computer via a USB port connected to the system board - not a front panel port or a hub or extention port.
  6. Verify successful android device driver installation in device manager.




No, it will do it for you :)

I haven't checked the Hack kit in a while, but last time I looked it seemed like using it with Sense 3.0 would wipe all the data off your phone in the process (not the SD card though) so make sure you back everything up if you can. I can't confirm if it does this or not anymore as there are new version of the kit, but it's better to be on the safe side and do it anyway
Click to expand...
:rolleyes: beat me to it CD:D. The thing i found most important whilst before using the kit was to actually read the effin manual before you start, it may seem slightly daunting the first time you try it, but if you take a couple of minutes to read the instructions its a piece of pi$$.
 
I haven't actually used the AAHK (I rooted before it existed), but CDP is correct... the people who have done it using Ubuntu have not had problems... don't get me wrong, people have been able to do it without problems not using Ubuntu, but it is the easiest/safest way (by all accounts)!
 
Quick help needed. Thank you all for your responses.

I ran the Hack Kit. CMD it tells me This version of Android Cannot use hack kit at this time.

You can downgrade if you like, then rerun the hack setup.

Would you like to downgrade?

I said yes. Hope this wont mess up anything? Now i see an RUU downloading. Is this ok?
 
El Presidente said:
The RUU will wipe the handset clean and install a barebones version of a ROM that's safe to use with the Hack Kit. Before you run it, what was the RUU filename?
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for your reply. The file name is PD98IMG. Kindly let me know if this is alright and if flashed with a branded phone like mine, it won't cause any issues.

P.S -> I chickened out and aborted the process. LOL
 
El Presidente said:
Sorry, I got your PM this morning.

Is it an exe file or zip file? Does the AAHK do the downgrade for you and what error message do you get?
Click to expand...


No problem at all. AAHK does the downgrade for me. It takes me to bootloader where it is checking for D98IMG.zip which was downloaded and transferred to the SD card by AAHK itself. bootloader says no image found then take me to a screen which asks me to update yes or no. Fast boot is turned of on my phone. However something I noticed is aahk downloads and saves the file as PD98IMG-GB2 in the OD98IMG folder.
 
The Hack Kit knows what it's doing so it shouldn't matter on the file name. Has it done the goldcard bit before attempting to load the PD98IMG zip thing?
 
Here is the log from Ace Hack CMD:


Ace Advanced Hack Kit [Linux/OSX/Windows] attn1 2011/2012

___________________________
MAIN MENU | |
| Only ONE Menu Step to: |
1 - Hack Ace <----------------------------+ * S-OFF |
| * SIM Unlock |
2 - DONATE (Encouraged, but optional) | * SuperCID |
Free HTC goldcard generator | RevSkills | * Root |
http://www.eff.org/ | * Busybox |
| |
**********************************************************************
o - Options Menu (Return to Stock, Flash radios, etc)
**********************************************************************
t - Toggle Flash Method - current method is fastbootRUU
*********************************************************************

q - Quit

[Select and press Enter]1


ro.product.version=3.13.832.4


This version of Android cannot use the hack kit at this time.

You can downgrade if you like, then rerun the hack step.

WARNING: THIS WILL WIPE DATA


[Would you like to downgrade? y/n]y

Download this RUU? [y,n]y
--2012-01-28 04:42:21-- http://tau.shadowchild.nl/files/PD98IMG-GB2.zip
Resolving tau.shadowchild.nl... 176.9.40.154
Connecting to tau.shadowchild.nl|176.9.40.154|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 259503624 (247M) [application/zip]
Saving to: `PD98IMG/PD98IMG-GB2.zip'

100%[======================================>] 259,503,624 253K/s in 16m 51s

2012-01-28 04:59:13 (251 KB/s) - `PD98IMG/PD98IMG-GB2.zip' saved [259503624/2595
03624]

a67daa6baa7ef085307593fef6329d14 *PD98IMG/PD98IMG-GB2.zip
Flash the downgrade RUU? [y,n]y


pushing rom to sdcard - this takes time please be patient.
2273 KB/s (259503624 bytes in 111.483s)
2400 KB/s (572752 bytes in 0.233s)
552 KB/s (19240 bytes in 0.034s)
673 KB/s (14475 bytes in 0.021s)

Starting stock recovery the first time to init....

Steps:
1. When you see the ugly red triangle, push/hold vol-UP and then push power to
start stock recovery.
2. When you get to the blue stock recovery menu, choose reboot and push power.

TacoRoot: HTC Edition v1
By Justin Case (jcase)
Presented by TeamAndIRC, RootzWiki and AndroidPolice
With great assistance from Reid Holland (Erishasnobattery)
----------
TacoRoot: HTC Edition v1 is based on a vulnerability independently discovered by

both Justin Case and Dan Rosenberg (Rosenberg fist). I believe unrevoked and
AlpahRev were also aware of it.
----------
Usage:
--recovery : For this exploit to work, you must have booted recovery at least on
ce after your last factory reset.
--setup : Setup the phone for root, must be done before --root.
--root : Root the phone.
--undo : Remove TacoRoot.
----------
Rebooting into recovery, please press Volume+, Volume- and Power at the same tim
e, and reboot the system.

Starting stock recovery for the last time....

Steps:
1. When you see the ugly red triangle, push/hold vol-UP and then push power to
start stock recovery.
2. When you get to the blue stock recovery menu, choose reboot and push power.

TacoRoot: HTC Edition v1
By Justin Case (jcase)
Presented by TeamAndIRC, RootzWiki and AndroidPolice
With great assistance from Reid Holland (Erishasnobattery)
----------
TacoRoot: HTC Edition v1 is based on a vulnerability independently discovered by

both Justin Case and Dan Rosenberg (Rosenberg fist). I believe unrevoked and
AlpahRev were also aware of it.
----------
Usage:
--recovery : For this exploit to work, you must have booted recovery at least on
ce after your last factory reset.
--setup : Setup the phone for root, must be done before --root.
--root : Root the phone.
--undo : Remove TacoRoot.
----------
Rebooting into root.
allowing time for the rom to settle.....
Creating goldcard....
HTC android goldcard tool Copyright (C) 2011, Wayne D. Hoxsie Jr.
Original code by B. Kerler. Special thanks to ATTN1 and the XDA team.
Donations can be made to the Electronic Frontier Foundation:
http://www.eff.org/
or to B. Kerler:
RevSkills | We deliver mobile forensic and analysis software solutions worldwide
0+1 records in
0+1 records out
384 bytes transferred in 0.009 secs (42666 bytes/sec)
setting mainver lower for downgrade...
--set_version set. VERSION will be changed to: 1.31.405.6
Misc partition is "/dev/block/mmcblk0p17"
Patching and backing up misc partition...
starting downgrade...


** The phone will now reboot into HBOOT.
** It will then check the file just sent.
** If everything is okay, the phone will
** prompt you to continue by pressing
** VOLUME UP. It will reboot, flashing twice.


**** PUSH POWER WHEN THIS STEP COMPLETES ****



If downgrade is successful, you may set up the phone and try to hack it again.


Once the downgrade is successful, press a key to return to the menu......
Otherwise, cut and paste the output to the screen into a text file for evaluatio
n.... then press a key.
Press any key to continue . . .
 
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