[GUIDE] How To Root/Unroot The Thunderbolt with Revolutionary

[Cyber Warrior]

I have a few questions from a newbe.

1. If I use this method to root my phone will it prevent me from being able to update my phone when the GB OTA update is re-released?
2. Once I do the OTA GB update will it un-root my phone?

Thanks for answer my questions

1. Yes... unless you unroot first.. install update.. reroot.
2. No....not with the Revolutionary root method. It locks the bootloader from being overwritten. You will not lose root nor will you be able to install the OTA if you do so by accident. You do not want to install Verizon OTAs on a rooted phone... it causes problems. With this root method, you're protected in case that happens.

You don't have to wait for Verizon to push the update to your phone... its already been leaked thanks to the developers. Install the Gingerbread RUU and then root the phone. If you need help just ask.

Gingerbread RUU 2.11.605.2 For The HTC Thunderbolt

**Warning: This will wipe the data on your phone so back up anything you need first. Use MyBackup Pro found in the Android Market**

Instructions:
1. Download this file Multiupload.com - upload your files to multiple file hosting sites! and rename it to PG05IMG.zip.
2. Drop the file onto the root of your SD card, meaning it is not in a folder.
3. Power down your device.
4. Hold Volume Down + Power to boot into the bootloader. (Quick boot from the market also works)
5. Your phone should recognize the file. Follow the on-screen instructions.
6. Once everything finishes, choose the option to reboot. Enjoy!

 

[krazibones]

CW, I am too a newbie and have a few questions:
1. How do you move the file downloaded above to install GB to the root of the SD card.
2. Do I download the file from the phone or my laptop and move it?
3. Does this version of GB have the VM issues that I've been reading about?
4. Do I need to install any new radios or something to make this GB update work?

Thanks! I've been holding out on rooting because im waiting on the GB OTA from Verizon, but if this is the same as that then I might as well load the GB from above and then root

 

[Cyber Warrior]

CW, I am too a newbie and have a few questions:
1. How do you move the file downloaded above to install GB to the root of the SD card.
2. Do I download the file from the phone or my laptop and move it?
3. Does this version of GB have the VM issues that I've been reading about?
4. Do I need to install any new radios or something to make this GB update work?

Thanks! I've been holding out on rooting because im waiting on the GB OTA from Verizon, but if this is the same as that then I might as well load the GB from above and then root

1. With Astro File Manager from the phone or hook up your phone to the computer and move/rename the file.
2. Either one doesn't matter. From Astro you would long press on the file to bring up the edit options for renaming and moving.
From the computer... Plug in to the usb.. go to settings.. Applications.. Development... Turn on usb debugging... From the phones pull down menu, select mount as disk drive. Go to my computer.. and select the drive to view the sd card contents. Rename and move the file to the sd card. From the phones pull down menu.. select charge only and proceed with the instructions for flashing the file from above.
3. Yes this version has the voicemail bug. If you switch to a custom ROM like Bamf Forever its fixed.
4. No... With the Gingerbread RUU linked above the radios are included.

 

[krazibones]

ok so I think I got it ... let me verify the ROM stuff then.
1. BAMF Forever 1.0.8 is the latest in the BAMF ROMs and that is a version of GB?
2. Do I need to install any radios for that? (I dont really understand the radio thing, been reading on it)
3. How do I install BAMF and radios (if i need radios)

From reading all your posts, can you tell me if i have the steps and logic down correctly?
1. Backup my phone data (contacts, emails, texts, etc) with MyBackup or MyBackup Pro
2. Root with Revolutionary
3. Use Titanium Backup and backup all apps and appdata and make a nandroid of stock ROM
4. Install BAMF Forever ROM
5. Use Titanium Backup to restore the apps and appdata I had downloaded with stock ROM
6. Use MyBackup to restore contacts, texts, emails, etc.
7. Use Titanium Backup to make new nandroid of newly ROMed phone with all apps and data

Thanks again, and as you can tell I am a total noob

 

[Cyber Warrior]

ok so I think I got it ... let me verify the ROM stuff then.
1. BAMF Forever 1.0.8 is the latest in the BAMF ROMs and that is a version of GB?
2. Do I need to install any radios for that? (I dont really understand the radio thing, been reading on it)
3. How do I install BAMF and radios (if i need radios)

From reading all your posts, can you tell me if i have the steps and logic down correctly?
1. Backup my phone data (contacts, emails, texts, etc) with MyBackup or MyBackup Pro
2. Root with Revolutionary
3. Use Titanium Backup and backup all apps and appdata and make a nandroid of stock ROM
4. Install BAMF Forever ROM
5. Use Titanium Backup to restore the apps and appdata I had downloaded with stock ROM
6. Use MyBackup to restore contacts, texts, emails, etc.
7. Use Titanium Backup to make new nandroid of newly ROMed phone with all apps and data

Thanks again, and as you can tell I am a total noob

Okay... Just about right.
You have two options...
1. Install the GB RUU which contains the ROM + Radios if you want to stay stock rooted OR
2. If you're going to use a custom ROM like Bamf (its a GB ROM built off of the latest version)... Skip the RUU and just root, flash the ROM, flash just the radios.

So....

If using the GB RUU:
1. Make a backup using Mybackup Pro of your apps and any other stuff you want. DONT Backup or ever restore "system settings"
2. Flash the RUU which will wipe the phones data.
3. Root the phone with Revolutionary.
4. Restore the phone with Mybackup Pro.
5. You can then use the app ROM Manager to make a nandroid backup of the entire phone which you can use to restore the phone back to normal if something ever goes wrong. Read the ROM Guide thats stickied in this thread for more info.

**Forget about Titanium... You really don't need it unless you want to freeze or delete app/system apps. There's two versions of Mybackup Pro... One is for root users which will update itself for free once you're rooted.**

======================================================

If using a Custom ROM... Which I recommend doing but its your phone so you decide.
1. Make a backup using Mybackup Pro of your apps and any other stuff you want. DONT Backup or ever restore "system settings"
2. Root the phone with Revolutionary.
3. Use ROM Manager to make a nandroid backup of the Stock ROM for if something ever goes wrong with the phone.
4. Install/flash the Bamf ROM.
5. Install the radios... Here: [RADIO] HTC Thunderbolt Radios [PG05IMG.zip] (Updated: 24 Sept 2011) - xda-developers Last ones on the list. You need to install one for CDMA and one for LTE... Two seperate radios flashed one at a time.
6. Restore your backup with Mybackup Pro.
You're Done. You can now make another nandroid of the Bamf ROM if you like. You can now use MyBackup Pro For Root Users to back up apps + APP DATA/SETTINGS.

 

[krazibones]

Great, thanks so much for the help!
I do want to delete all the unnecessary apps so I will follow the guide on that which I guess will require me to use Titanium Backup

Wish me luck!

 

[Cyber Warrior]

Yes....thats what I do. Mybackup Pro for apps/data, sms, call log, home screen settings, etc... And Titanium Backup to delete or freeze unnecessary apps/bloat. Just make sure you make a nandroid backup before deleting stuff with Titanium.
Some of my favorite apps for root users:
MyBackup Pro
Titanium Backup
Root Explorer
ROM Manager
Wifi Tether

Just follow the directions and you will be fine. Everything you need is in the Guides stickied at the top of the page.

 

[androidude333]

Hello im still stuck at Fastboot trying to install Clockworkmod it keeps giving me a error while trying to use the directions with using the command prompt.

 

[Doobles]

From the phone>> Menu... Settings... Power... Turn off Fastboot.

Actually, I made sure Fastboot was disabled :/

 

[sthelinag]

I may have missed this in the thread, so forgive me if I'm duplicating a question. I can get the recovery screen to come up but still nothing happens when I press volume up or down to select recovery so I can flash SU. No matter what I hit it stays in regular bootloader and tries to load the last update I downloaded.

 

[krazibones]

ok so I rooted my phone last night with Revolutionary and now I am trying to do a Nandriod backup with Rom Manager but it keeps saying SD card Not loaded. any idea how to get it working? I want to take a Nandroid backup, remove bloatware, nandroid backup again, flash BAMF.

Thanks!!!

EDIT: I got it working now ... had to reboot, and reinstall ROM Manager. Backing up now

 

[tjefferson3]

I unrooted using this guide, now my phone is not being recognized by my pc as a usb drive...any suggestions?

 

[tjefferson3]

I figured it out..I pulled the battery, reformatted my sd card via pc, and uninstalled the htc drivers.

 

[corn4ahead]

ok, i need to send my phone back for warranty purposes. I rooted using the old adb method. Can I unroot with Revolutionary?

 

[Cyber Warrior]

ok, i need to send my phone back for warranty purposes. I rooted using the old adb method. Can I unroot with Revolutionary?

No need to... it's even easier... you can skip all of those adb commands and jump straight over to just flashing two zip files in the bootloader.

THIS IS FROM THE LAST PART OF THE GUIDE
****THIS WILL ONLY WORK IF YOU HAVE NOT USED REVOLUTIONARY TO ROOT THE PHONE****
****IF YOU USED REVOLUTIONARY AND WANT TO UNROOT >>> YOU NEED TO START FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE UNROOT GUIDE****​

Putting current stock firmware and s-on back onto the phone

After getting the bootloader back to the original s-off, engineering 1.04.2000 hboot download these 2 files:
1) PG05IMG_1.70.605.0_nohboot.zip
md5: c2c61df561e8a74cd103f0b9b89d81d6
and
2) PG05IMG_hboot_only_1.04.0000
md5: 584a4cdc12658835cb2a7885e8e44fd2

Rename PG05IMG_1.70.605.0_nohboot.zip to "PG05IMG"... move to your sd card and flash in hboot.

This is important! you must flash the PG05IMG_1.70.605.0_nohboot.zip first!

After successfully flashing that... you will be on unrooted mr2 with an eng s-off bootloader. Delete the PG05IMG file from your sd card. Now place the PG05IMG_hboot_only_1.04.0000 on your sd card. Check the md5. Once you've verified it matches... you can rename it "PG05IMG" and flash it.

Again, ONLY flash the hboot file after you have successfully flashed the rom.

Now you are 100% stock on latest firmware. Unrooted MR2 (1.70.605.0), with s-on 1.04.0000 bootloader.

*** NOTE: MR2 is no longer the latest firmware... After downgrading... you can manually download the Verizon OTA for Gingerbread. ***

 

[Nakeek]

Is the website down I cant get the link revolutionary.io to work?

 

[Cyber Warrior]

Is the website down I cant get the link revolutionary.io to work?

I just tried it and its working for me.

 

[primetime1267]

Quick question, when I'm entering my Beta key into revolutionary. It always comes back with invalid key. Any suggestions?

 

[stratejaket]

Copy and paste it. You will have to paste using the menu at the top, edit > paste

 

[Cyber Warrior]

Quick question, when I'm entering my Beta key into revolutionary. It always comes back with invalid key. Any suggestions?

Check all the letters/numbers. One person was confusing a "l" as a "1".