Root Do I need to unlock my bootloader?

[Brent372]

My DINC is already rooted, with S-OFF.
Running a stock ROM, with no plans to change that.

Do I need to unlock my bootloader, now that it is officially supported on HTCDEV.com?

What will I gain from doing so?

 

[quiklives]

I don't have an HTC, but my understanding of locked vs unlocked bootloaders is like this: unlocking the bootloader allows people to root and flash custom ROMs/kernels without running an exploit but instead as part of the "natural" system.

So from a sort of purist point of view, yes it would be better to unlock it, then start over again. And you may find down the road that a lot of development of ROMs and kernels takes place in a way that would require you to have an unlocked bootloader to take advantage of it if you decide you're interested.

But purely from a practical standpoint no, I don't think you will gain anything if your phone already does everything you want it to do.

*my opinion and somewhat limited understanding of how it all works, and as always YYMV

 

[scotty85]

you definately do not need to. if you are s-off,you can,you will gain the use of a couple of fastboot commands that you didnt have before,but for most folks,itw of little to no benefit... being s-off is much better.

defiantely dont do it if you still have some warranty left,as it does void "all or parts" of your remaining warranty

 

[Brent372]

No warranty left. But just to unconfuse me.... If i were not s-off already, unlocking the bootloader would not result in this?

 

[scotty85]

But just to unconfuse me.... If i were not s-off already, unlocking the bootloader would not result in this?

that is correct.

HTCdev is an s-on hboot that simply allows access to boot/system/recovery after it is unlocked.

s-off is NOT a result of using htc unlock,sorry to say.

 

[Brent372]

So what is the big deal of officially unlocking bootloaders if the same can be acomplished with the root guides on here?

 

[scotty85]

So what is the big deal of officially unlocking bootloaders if the same can be acomplished with the root guides on here?

the really big deal,IMO, is for phones with no root methods,like the rezound and evo 3d.

for older phoned like the inc,there isnt much reason for more advanced users to do it,other than S&Gs.

folks do have different needs. the htcdev method is pretty easy,and my be less overwhelming to some than the available root/downgrade to get s-off methods. some others may just feel more comfortable with an "approved" unlock. in all fairness,the htc method is pretty well thot out as far as being safe for the average user,while giving access to what they want,since you can use it to flash a recovery then root your stock rom,or even run custom roms with custom kernels. with s-on htcdev,you cannot change the 1.02.0000
hboot,wich will make the device nearly impossible to brick. in a worse case scenario all youll need to do is "fastboot oem lock" to relock the bootloader,then run an RUU. i like to tinker and test more than an s-on htcdev hboot would allow,but im a bit of an exception

im a pretty big advocate of radio s-off,or patched s-off eng hboots. i think everyone should attempt to achieve s-off via radio or a permanent patched hboot(revolutionary) depending on their device.its been my experience softbricked devices are alot easier to recover if s-off. but if s-off is not available(rezound,3d,prolly alot of future devices) htc dev is certainly better than nothing

it also somewhat restores my faith in htc as a company. while its not exactly what *i* want,it is an awsome attempt on their part to meet consumer demands with their products. most would have been happy to see support for all new devices. it would have been easy to say "we will allow unlock for devices produced this day forward. we are not concerned about older devices wich have allready been unlocked/rooted by the development community." its a huge effort on their part to include all these older phones,and says alot about their desires to make customers happy

 

[Brent372]

So unlocking the boot loader will give you root, or the ability to get root?

 

[scotty85]

So unlocking the boot loader will give you root, or the ability to get root?

Correct. Similarly to "regain root with s-off":
1)HTCdev unlock
2)install recovery thru bootloader
3)flash superuser files in recovery to root stock rom. Alternatively,you could jump right to flashing a custom rom. Other devices require the kernel to be flashed via fastboot(recovery cannot write to the boot partition),I'm not sure if the inc is same or not.

With the HTCdev unlock,you should be able to delete bloat and mod the stock rom just as you do with s-off