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Root [How To] Root 2.3.4/downgrade and Get S-off

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romeodakins said:
Do I really have to downgrade to 2.2?
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Only if you want s-off (an unlocked bootloader). Which gives you the ability to change radios, hboots, downgrade system images, and modify system files while booted(like the build.prop).

If you just want root access, then you don't have to downgrade, but it is well worth the extra effort to downgrade and get s-off. :)
 
sdrawkcab25 said:
Only if you want s-off (an unlocked bootloader). Which gives you the ability to change radios, hboots, downgrade system images, and modify system files while booted(like the build.prop).

If you just want root access, then you don't have to downgrade, but it is well worth the extra effort to downgrade and get s-off. :)
Click to expand...

So I can't edit build.prop without downgrading? :mad: That's the whole reason why I'm rooting. So if you just root without s off, what can you do with that? All I'm rooting for is to play gameloft games.

Hey also, I went on File Droid lite app and it let me explore through everything in my phone. Then it let me into the System folder and I found my build.prop file! How come I can access my system folder? I'm not even rooted.
 
romeodakins said:
So I can't edit build.prop without downgrading? :mad: That's the whole reason why I'm rooting. So if you just root without s off, what can you do with that? All I'm rooting for is to play gameloft games.

Hey also, I went on File Droid lite app and it let me explore through everything in my phone. Then it let me into the System folder and I found my build.prop file! How come I can access my system folder? I'm not even rooted.
Click to expand...
Yeah, you can see some system files without being rooted, but can't change them, and then when you have root, you will be able to see more system files, but can't modify them in a booted state without s-off. You also need a root capable file explorer, like "ES file explorer"(ES file explorer has an option in the settings to enable root access viewing) or "root explorer"

So, with root but without s-off, you just can't edit system files while booted, it would have to be done while in fastboot, or recovery, through ADB (android debug bridge), and if you are gonna go through the trouble of installing ADB, you might as well downgrade and get s-off.
 
Thank you very much everyone! After months of reading this thread and gathering the tools, checking the other threads, then re-reading this one and checking comments, I finally took the first step. I registered just to say thank you, and to share some of my experiences following the guide.

My Dinc is Hardware version 0003, running 2.3.4 build 4.08.605.2 (which took quite a while to get, but solved the low memory problems).

My goal was to just get Superuser so I could install a few root apps like Barnacle, and delete some of the Verizon bloatware. I probably will try out custom ROMs eventually, but one step at a time.

One step I almost missed was installing the unrevoked USB drivers. Thank goodness I re-read many times. I also almost got confused as to whether to perform this procedure while in HBoot or not (as following the directions sequentially could lead to that conclusion). I deduced that the warnings about verifying "USB debugging" and all meant I needed to boot the phone up.

A later poster mistook the clockwork "hat and arrow" graphic for a freeze. I made the same mistake, but then saw that I too had hit "power" instead of "trackball". I assumed I was supposed to select "power down" (which I did).

Upon booting the phone up, SU did indeed appear in my app drawer. However, "clear data" was greyed out for me as well. I assumed that since the instructions say "alternatively... boot checker or root only app", that I could skip actually flashing the new clockwork.

I did download ROM Manager, and Barnacle. I got Barnacle set up and connected my laptop, so it seems I was successful.

I fully intend to finish the clockwork flash later. It sounds like I have to do that before I can use the "create backup" option? I plan to get Titanium Backup Pro prior to flashing clockwork and make a few backups before continuing.

So that is my experience so far. Thank you so much for these guides! I look forward to more fun with my phone, and possibly our (wife's) xoom, and in a few months, my TF700T.
 
it sounds from your comments about the hat graphic and icon that you allready have clockwork. if thats the case,then you dont need to do anything else. go ahead and make a backup. :)

just a couple of things:
-be careful what you backup and restore with titanium. trying to restore system data across roms can lead to force closes and fustration,i personally recomend to only use titanium for apps/app data. also,if you think youll be a flashoholic,get the paid version,its well worth the $7,since it lets you do batch backup and restores.
-i would not really reccomend using rom manager,it seems to hurt more than it helps in some situations. remember rom manager is an app,in a functional,working rom,and as such,will not be available if youre stuck in a bootloop :eek:
i would very strongly reccomend becoming comfortable using the menus in clockwork to manually wipe/backup/flash. at that point,you can use rom manager if you wich,as youll then have the skills to go to recovery and manually fix bootloops,hangs,or unfunctional roms.
-i get the impression you havent donwgraded and s-offed yet. if youre happy with how things work,nothing wrong with staying there,but id consider after a few days consider finishing the guide and achieving s-off,it looks a lil scary,but is a pretty easy process once you start doing it,and in the long run offers many advantages.

glad the guides were helpful,holler if you have further questions. :cool:
 
{{{it sounds from your comments about the hat graphic and icon that you allready have clockwork. if thats the case,then you dont need to do anything else. go ahead and make a backup}}}

The directions in the OP had a note that said that for slcd users, this version of unrevoked was giving us an "old, non-compatible version of clockwork,so you will just see a black screen if you do not install newer clockwork as described above"

Shall I assume that because I did not get a black screen, and because I saw the hat graphic, that I have a version of clockwork that works for me? Or is the only way to know for sure when I actually try to boot into it again, or make a backup?

I will definitely buy the pro key. I figure I'll make a few backups. One "everything" backup, and then one of just apps and app data as advised.

I wanted to read more about making backups before trying it. Once I do that, I'll give it a shot and see what happens. It would be great if I didn't have to change the version of clockwork as indicated in the OP.
 
I was reading the guides on xda about nandroid and removing bloatware. It said that one could boot into clockworkmod by powering down, then holding power and vol down. That just put me into HBoot. I let it sit for a moment, but nothing changed, so I chose "power down" and rebooted normally.

Did I access something incorrectly? Or do i just need to follow the instructions for flashing clockwork with Rom manager?
 
I'm researching this now. Somehow I doubt its really as simple as opening ROM Manager and pressing the "flash clockworkmod recovery" button...
 
setmeupnow said:
{{{it sounds from your comments about the hat graphic and icon that you allready have clockwork. if thats the case,then you dont need to do anything else. go ahead and make a backup}}}

The directions in the OP had a note that said that for slcd users, this version of unrevoked was giving us an "old, non-compatible version of clockwork,so you will just see a black screen if you do not install newer clockwork as described above"

Shall I assume that because I did not get a black screen, and because I saw the hat graphic, that I have a version of clockwork that works for me? Or is the only way to know for sure when I actually try to boot into it again, or make a backup?

I will definitely buy the pro key. I figure I'll make a few backups. One "everything" backup, and then one of just apps and app data as advised.

I wanted to read more about making backups before trying it. Once I do that, I'll give it a shot and see what happens. It would be great if I didn't have to change the version of clockwork as indicated in the OP.
Click to expand...

yup,if you saw the hat graphic,you are running a compaitble version. you followed the directions to direct unrevoked to a newer clockwork,wich is compatible. this guide has been some what of a "work in progress" and has chaged a few times as we figured things out. if you let unrevoked 3.21 install the cw that its packed with,then you would have had the black screen.

but sounds like youre good to go :) go ahead and boot to cw,and chose the option to make a backup(i dont run cw so i cant remember wat the menu options are)

setmeupnow said:
I was reading the guides on xda about nandroid and removing bloatware. It said that one could boot into clockworkmod by powering down, then holding power and vol down. That just put me into HBoot. I let it sit for a moment, but nothing changed, so I chose "power down" and rebooted normally.

Did I access something incorrectly? Or do i just need to follow the instructions for flashing clockwork with Rom manager?
Click to expand...

from hboot,you need to select recovery with the power button and vol rocker. this will take you to either your stock recovery,or a custom recovery if installed.

setmeupnow said:
I'm researching this now. Somehow I doubt its really as simple as opening ROM Manager and pressing the "flash clockworkmod recovery" button...
Click to expand...

if you are rooted,then its that simple. if not,then yes,its a lil more complicated ;)

if youre s-off,then you just need to install clockwork as a PB31IMG,then flash root files(theres another guide stickied with more specific directions)

if your s-on,on froyo: run unrevoked 3.31

s-on,on GB:
-use this guide and unrevoked 3.21
or
-use the other sticky guide to unlock via htcdev

either way,id reccomend to follow the whole procedure and become s-off. especially with htcdev,its not a true,full unlock,so just use it as means to root and downgrade,then s-off.

hope that helps :)
 
sdrawkcab25 said:
Yeah, you can see some system files without being rooted, but can't change them, and then when you have root, you will be able to see more system files, but can't modify them in a booted state without s-off. You also need a root capable file explorer, like "ES file explorer"(ES file explorer has an option in the settings to enable root access viewing) or "root explorer"

So, with root but without s-off, you just can't edit system files while booted, it would have to be done while in fastboot, or recovery, through ADB (android debug bridge), and if you are gonna go through the trouble of installing ADB, you might as well downgrade and get s-off.
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Is ADB hard to install and understand? Since I'm just gonna modify one file and then never modify anything else ever again, I think ADB seems like the thing I should do, unless it's too hard. Which is easier to do, ADB or Downgrading and getting S Off?
 
Im getting a TL-Bootstrap.exe error after i flash clockwork. unrevoked says booting into recovery. clocikwork loads and gives me all the options in blue. Then the error pops up and nothing happens. The only info ive found about it is that it has something to do with the verizon sync thing but i dont have that installed on my pc.​
 
goofyboots1221 said:
Im getting a TL-Bootstrap.exe error after i flash clockwork. unrevoked says booting into recovery. clocikwork loads and gives me all the options in blue. Then the error pops up and nothing happens. The only info ive found about it is that it has something to do with the verizon sync thing but i dont have that installed on my pc.​
Click to expand...
You don't have htc sync on your computer?
 
Hey guys, I might jump ship to Galaxy s3 in order to keep my current plan. Question if you knew if rooting the Samsung phones is similar to rooting my Incredible.
I almost hate to leave HTC because if the awesome support from you guys.

Finally, if switching to another phone, is getting s-off still important, do you think Verizon will push another update?

Sent from my Incredible.
Aw yeah.
 
goofyboots1221 said:
Im getting a TL-Bootstrap.exe error after i flash clockwork. unrevoked says booting into recovery. clocikwork loads and gives me all the options in blue. Then the error pops up and nothing happens. The only info ive found about it is that it has something to do with the verizon sync thing but i dont have that installed on my pc.​
Click to expand...
is this message on the phone screen or the cmd window?

are you able to pull the batter with the phone not connected to the pc,and get to recovery?

funkpod said:
Hey guys, I might jump ship to Galaxy s3 in order to keep my current plan. Question if you knew if rooting the Samsung phones is similar to rooting my Incredible.
I almost hate to leave HTC because if the awesome support from you guys.

Finally, if switching to another phone, is getting s-off still important, do you think Verizon will push another update?

Sent from my Incredible.
Aw yeah.
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if its got an unlocked bootloader like the gnex,its pretty painless,and actually allows access to all partitions,unlike htcdev :rolleyes:

that said,there is an s-off method for the rezound,wich may work for the inc 4g(i need to research that)

i had a galaxy nexus,and as badly as i wanted to love it,i am too big an htc fan to warm up to it. ended up trading it for a dev rezound.
 
I haven't opened any cmd Windows yet. The bootstrap error pops up on my pc while unrevoked is doing its this. TL-Bootstrap.exe has incountered a problem and needs to close. I'm using an older laptop running xp. I am able to get into recovery with the phone unplugged.
 
stsoccerfreak said:
Hey when i try to do this root i plug my phone in to do the unrevoked 3.22 and it will do its thing for a while, and then it will say "Communications with phone unexpectedly interrupted. Try Again." and then it will reboot my phone to a screen that says ClockworkMod Recovery v5.0.2.0 and it has some options i have tried redoing the the unrevoked but it always does this. Also i am pretty sure i installed the drivers correctly. can someone help me I am a noob in this kind of stuff
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scotty85 said:
if youre getting a screen that says clockwork mod recovery v5.0.2.0 then youre almost there! have you checked to see if the superuser app is in your app drawer? the process may have completed,despite the error message.

if the su app is indeed missing,no worry,just grab the superuser .zip file in the other sticky(regain root with s-off) and flash that in clockwork mod recovery. you will need to place it on the root of your sd card,then use the menu options in clockwork to flash it(wipe cache and dalvik cache for good measure). you will navigate clockwork with the optic trackpad thingy. push it to select(not the power button ;))

once youve successfully flashed superuser and hes working and grantiing permissions,you can continue on to get s-off :)
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So I had the same problem as the user above and used the suggested method from scotty by placing the superuser zip file on the sdcard and installing it from the clockwork recovery. I've wiped the cache and dalvik cache and I am now stuck in a boot loop. Any suggestions?
 
if you have a backup,you can wipe and restore it,or you can flash a rom,and have the advantage of being rooted so you can procede :)

im out of touch with inc 1 roms,but im sure there are rooted stock GB and froyo if youd rather go that route.
 
scotty85 said:
if you have a backup,you can wipe and restore it,or you can flash a rom,and have the advantage of being rooted so you can procede :)

im out of touch with inc 1 roms,but im sure there are rooted stock GB and froyo if youd rather go that route.
Click to expand...

since i wasn't thinking ahead and didn't make a backup/restore point, I ended up going into panic mode and used the thread of unrooting your phone back to stock gingerbread. That worked, but i lost all of my apps and settings :(
 
zepolyar said:
Ok im sorry im a bit confused i have to downgrade to 2.2 and get s-off in order to have root access to 2.3.4??
Click to expand...

you can get access to boot and system in 2.3.4.

you have to dowgrade to get s-off.

s off is better in many,many ways. it allows complete access to all partitions,giving the ability to chage hboots,radios,and downgrade firmware versions(the ability to run ANY factory software you want can be a benefit if the phone becomes "soft bricked")

id pretty strongly recomend to go thru the complete process and achieve s off.

if you have any issues getting unrevoked to run,there is a guide to complete the process using htcdev instead :)
 
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