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Help Should I root and S-Off my phone?
- Thread starter Skelaz
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- htc evo v 4g
having root access doesnt break anything.
the difference is that without root, an app that requests root to do a task will never get it.
WITH root, an app that asks for root asks the user for confirmation. so you can deny any apps that you dont think need root access.
no real difference besides that. doesnt change a radio, doesnt break a camera, doesnt delete your data (unless you have to flash the rooted rom) then its like starting over.
S-off only ALLOWS you to flash a new radio and other bits. going S-off doesnt actually change the phone, just ALLOWS it to BE changed later
the difference is that without root, an app that requests root to do a task will never get it.
WITH root, an app that asks for root asks the user for confirmation. so you can deny any apps that you dont think need root access.
no real difference besides that. doesnt change a radio, doesnt break a camera, doesnt delete your data (unless you have to flash the rooted rom) then its like starting over.
S-off only ALLOWS you to flash a new radio and other bits. going S-off doesnt actually change the phone, just ALLOWS it to BE changed later
Alright, but what about Leslie's fix everything guide? Do I really need a custom ROM for that? I would like to keep the original ROM and use it because I find the original ROM most smooth and fluid. The first EVO V I had got notched down a bit when I flashed a new ROM, it just felt slower so that's why I'm just going to keep the original one.
Lanman1978
Android Enthusiast
I think keeping the stock ROM on the phone is the best thing to do imo. I tried Midnight ROM and it had broken wifi, MeanROM had broken MMS, other ROMS you need to be S off. This phone is a pain in the arse to ROM. At least with the stock ROM you know everything will work and S off won't matter so much. If you are going to do anything to the phone just root it and leave it at that.
Actually, after becoming s-off you can flash a new hboot, radio, and PRI, which has greatly improved my signal strength, signal fluctuations, and my 3G speed. I definitely recommend it - The pros greatly outweigh the cons, because there aren't any cons
Okay, but do you have to have a custom ROM in order to do all of the above? That's what I want to know. Thanks.
I'm staying s-on. I have installed midnight and mobster roms and both installed fine with using 4ext.
My phones connections all work great so if it aint broke dont fix it.
Also, to do any of the above you WILL have to wipe your phone. I only gained root and had to wipe/reinstall a rom. Unlike the Triumph where you could root and go back into the actual rom that shipped with your phone.
I would root - it really wasnt that hard, thanks to the tutorial, and then you can install Google Now, Wifi Tethe etc that add new dimensions to the phone.
IMHO - Id stay away from S-Off. Ive read the threads around and some people suggest s-off and radio fixes improve the phone and others dont. I think there is a 'placebo effect' with updating radios etc. Its expected that it will be faster and so people think it is.
As I said, zero connection issues on my EVO so Im staying S-ON. Im on the mobster rom and it was an easy install (after root) using 4EXT:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...51bGwsMSwxLDMsImV4dC5yZWNvdmVyeS5jb250cm9sIl0.
My phones connections all work great so if it aint broke dont fix it.
Also, to do any of the above you WILL have to wipe your phone. I only gained root and had to wipe/reinstall a rom. Unlike the Triumph where you could root and go back into the actual rom that shipped with your phone.
I would root - it really wasnt that hard, thanks to the tutorial, and then you can install Google Now, Wifi Tethe etc that add new dimensions to the phone.
IMHO - Id stay away from S-Off. Ive read the threads around and some people suggest s-off and radio fixes improve the phone and others dont. I think there is a 'placebo effect' with updating radios etc. Its expected that it will be faster and so people think it is.
As I said, zero connection issues on my EVO so Im staying S-ON. Im on the mobster rom and it was an easy install (after root) using 4EXT:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...51bGwsMSwxLDMsImV4dC5yZWNvdmVyeS5jb250cm9sIl0.
OverByter
Resident Slide Rule Guru
Getting root does require you to wipe the device but you definitely don't need to install /re-install a rom. Having s-off just opens every possible option to you, using 4EXT USUALLY works, but there are times when using a custom kernel that it sometimes has problems. S-OFF has only one potential con and that would be wiping your sd card, using a spare solves that. Flashing a new radio is not placebo, not receiving the interface shortage error plus not seeing your signal fluctuate to - 120 db pretty much proves that. Plus if you were able to follow the instructions on getting root, then getting s-off is really not any more difficult. I've done it on 4 different HTC devices without issue and can accomplish it in under 10 minutes now. The wire trick is actually easier and faster than having to make a "goldcard" as is required for other HTC phones including the Wildfire S.
OverByter, do you need to have a custom ROM to do the "fix everything guide" by Leslie?
OverByter
Resident Slide Rule Guru
Absolutely not, but after accomplishing everything in that thread numerous other options are available including custom roms as well as alternative kernels. I guarantee that you'll find something that will improve your user experience and performance. Good luck. :thumbup:
Leslie Ann
Android Expert
You don't need S-off for Harmonia, and everything works just like stock, only better.
Actually to do the S-Off you have to be on the stock ROM. And no, you don't need a custom ROM to flash a radio and such.
you don't have to be on a stock rom. Switching to s-off is done through the hboot and recovery functions of the phone which are before the device ever boots into a rom.
You might need a stock based rom to kick off the process though, it's possible the junopeanutbear (or whatever it's called) software kicks things off using some of the htc diagnostic functions built into a Sense rom.
I began my s-off process from Midnightrom, which is just a custom stock based rom.
You definitely need a stock based rom if you want to update your PRL to a different one since you need the diagnostic function accessed through the htc dialer.