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Root Root, Unlock Bootlader, and install Recovery Guide for HTC Desire 601 (Zara)

Hello! Here is a guide to root your phone that walks you almost step by step through the process of unlocking your bootloader, flashing recovery, and obtaining root.

This works for both the Zara_CL and the Zara_UL as of Jan 2014.

DISCLAIMER!


I am in no way responsible for you breaking your phone if you mess up, this does void your warranty, so be warned, I'll help if something goes wrong, but it seems to work fine.

ygevuvyz.jpg



Step 1: Download those files, backup important files, get command prompt ready!


Part 1.
Download the Updated SU_Binary (You'll flash this in recovery), recovery.img (Philz-Touch Modified, Advanced CWM Recovery) and Android-SDK-Tools-Android-4.2.2 (Links Below) . Extract and move these files into a folder of your choice, except for Updated SU_Binary, put that on your sd card. Remember to backup any files that are on your internal storage, you will lose all of your data when the bootloader unlocks (it factory resets your phone in the process).
Part 2.
Open Command Prompt. Type in cmd in run or if using Windows 8 go to start and type in cmd. Remember where you extracted the Android-SDK-Tools-Android-4.2.2? Good! Change Directory to the files locations. I put mine into with all the files taken out of the Android-SDK-Tools folder. Type into command cd(path to folder). This is what it should look like.
C:\Users\(your username)>cd(path to android tools and recovery)


Step 2: Get Developer Options Unlocked!


On your phone go to settings, to About, to about Software Information, then Tap your Build Number version 1.10(something) 7 times. Then you'll have Developer Options and enable USB debugging there.

Step 3: Time to Unlock that Bootloader!


Go to HTCdev - Unlock Bootloader. (You will need to make an account if you don't have one already). Select all other supported devices where you see -All Supported Devices-. Follow the instructions. You can download fastboot.exe from them, however the Android-SDK-Tools snapshot that I have on here has it already.
Congrats! Your bootloader should be unlocked after this!

Step 4: Flash That Recovery!


On your phone, go back to fastboot mode. (Power and Down Vol on phone), select fastboot. Back on your computer, cmd should still be open and cd-ed into the folder with your android tools and files. Type:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
and hit enter. Your recovery should be flashed on your phone.

Step 5: Get root on your stock rom!

Now this part is easy, hold power and vol down and select recovery. Your recovery will open. The recovery is touch enabled so go to Install Zip, then Choose zip from /storage/sdcard1. Find where you put your SuperSU file and install it. Reboot and you have a rooted rom. Download RootChecker and check just in case.

STEP 6: What now?

The kernel has write protection enabled, so at the moment we cannot delete any programs and debloat, however, if you are having issues with VirginEssentials you can install Aroma File Manager and use that to change the name of the apk (add .bak or something to the end and that should stop that program. OR, use titanium backup and freeze the application. All other root apps should be fine.

When the kernel source code is released, should be soon, I'll release a debloat version of the stock rom.

Links:
Recovery and SU_Binary
Android-SDK-Tools for Android 4.2.2

Final Notes!


There are two versions of the Desire 601, Zara_CL (CDMA version) and the Zara_UL (GSM version). When flashing anything (there are odexed versions of the applications out and about on XDA) make sure you flash the right one. Otherwise your phone will not work correctly, either it will not boot, or, the phone apk will continuously crash. Make sure you install the right version!

Edit: Added Picture as proof.
 
any one know anything about the dual SIM Desiree 601 aka Desire 6160?

I'm looking for some kind of official firmware that would contain boot.img and recovery.img for this device. thanks in advance if anyone could tip me in the right direction.
 
I have the Virgin Mobile version whichever one that is?

Update: Zara CL

Sweet. Well at the moment. None of the kernel sources that HTC put out has any of the Config.gz configs we have. So it may be safe to assume that they will put out the USA sources too since we only have Europe and Worldwide. Unless you know some cdma network carriers for European countries.

CDMA? My VM HTC Desire has a SIM card in it, it should be GSM.. shouldn't it? I thought that would make it a Zara_UL?

How can we be sure?

Go into bootloader mode. So turn off fastboot. Power off. Then hold down power and Vol down and it will say there. I'm on VM too and I have Zara_CL. I think the SIM card is for 4g lte but we still have a CDMA radio.
 
Ah, got it. Only got the phone yesterday and I didnt realize that worked like my VM HTC Evo V4g. You're right, we have Zara_CL.. knowing is half the battle ;)

I'm loving this phone, will love it even more with a KitKat ROM in it ;)

Cheers!
 
Yeah it's going to be awesome! Not like it already isn't. So I contacted HTCDev about our binaries so we'll see what they say. They got my phone info so I might have it today.
 
Yeah but we don't know if it comes with Sense 5.5

I hope we can get a stock Android kit kat ROM

We will. :) HTC is good about letting users use their devices the way they want. Plus the person who I'm talking to from HTCDev said that it is a problem that we don't have our kernel source and understands our need for write protection to be off. So it'll happen.
 
Hello! Here is a guide to root your phone that walks you almost step by step through the process of unlocking your bootloader, flashing recovery, and obtaining root.

This works for both the Zara_CL and the Zara_UL as of Jan 2014.

DISCLAIMER!


I am in no way responsible for you breaking your phone if you mess up, this does void your warranty, so be warned, I'll help if something goes wrong, but it seems to work fine.

ygevuvyz.jpg



Step 1: Download those files, backup important files, get command prompt ready!


Part 1.
Download the Updated SU_Binary (You'll flash this in recovery), recovery.img (Philz-Touch Modified, Advanced CWM Recovery) and Android-SDK-Tools-Android-4.2.2 (Links Below) . Extract and move these files into a folder of your choice, except for Updated SU_Binary, put that on your sd card. Remember to backup any files that are on your internal storage, you will lose all of your data when the bootloader unlocks (it factory resets your phone in the process).
Part 2.
Open Command Prompt. Type in cmd in run or if using Windows 8 go to start and type in cmd. Remember where you extracted the Android-SDK-Tools-Android-4.2.2? Good! Change Directory to the files locations. I put mine into with all the files taken out of the Android-SDK-Tools folder. Type into command cd(path to folder). This is what it should look like.


Step 2: Get Developer Options Unlocked!


On your phone go to settings, to About, to about Software Information, then Tap your Build Number version 1.10(something) 7 times. Then you'll have Developer Options and enable USB debugging there.

Step 3: Time to Unlock that Bootloader!


Go to HTCdev - Unlock Bootloader. (You will need to make an account if you don't have one already). Select all other supported devices where you see -All Supported Devices-. Follow the instructions. You can download fastboot.exe from them, however the Android-SDK-Tools snapshot that I have on here has it already.
Congrats! Your bootloader should be unlocked after this!

Step 4: Flash That Recovery!


On your phone, go back to fastboot mode. (Power and Down Vol on phone), select fastboot. Back on your computer, cmd should still be open and cd-ed into the folder with your android tools and files. Type: and hit enter. Your recovery should be flashed on your phone.

Step 5: Get root on your stock rom!

Now this part is easy, hold power and vol down and select recovery. Your recovery will open. The recovery is touch enabled so go to Install Zip, then Choose zip from /storage/sdcard1. Find where you put your SuperSU file and install it. Reboot and you have a rooted rom. Download RootChecker and check just in case.

STEP 6: What now?

The kernel has write protection enabled, so at the moment we cannot delete any programs and debloat, however, if you are having issues with VirginEssentials you can install Aroma File Manager and use that to change the name of the apk (add .bak or something to the end and that should stop that program. OR, use titanium backup and freeze the application. All other root apps should be fine.

When the kernel source code is released, should be soon, I'll release a debloat version of the stock rom.

Links:
Recovery and SU_Binary
Android-SDK-Tools for Android 4.2.2

Final Notes!


There are two versions of the Desire 601, Zara_CL (CDMA version) and the Zara_UL (GSM version). When flashing anything (there are odexed versions of the applications out and about on XDA) make sure you flash the right one. Otherwise your phone will not work correctly, either it will not boot, or, the phone apk will continuously crash. Make sure you install the right version!

Edit: Added Picture as proof.

till step 4 everything went good after that when i select recovery it just enters to the fastboot mode instead of recovery. help me..
 
I'm unlocked and rooted. Thanks for your tutorial it helped me get root. For some reason the HTC Dev bootloader unlock instructions were the most confusing. Now I'm just waiting for a kernel maybe we could overclock this phone. I know these snap dragons have a lot of reserves in them usually
 
I looked at the performance settings on these phones using CPU Adjuster, it appears they are:

384Mhz min clock
1134 Mhz max clock
CFQ I/O scheduler
Ondemand CPU scheduler.

I normally use No Frills CPU to change settings (CPU and I/O scheduler, specifically) but haven't tried it with the Zara yet. Not sure I want to, kinda chicken :D

I've made a backup of the ROM in recovery, so if I get time tonight I may mess with it.
 
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