HTC Adds Thunderbolt to Official Bootloader Unlocker!

[ReverendOlaf]

Here's where I read this:
HTC Expands Bootloader Unlock Compatibility – Incredible 2, Thunderbolt Make The Cut

and where you can access the tool:
HTCdev - Unlock Bootloader


I've yet to root my phone for a variety of reasons (mostly laziness), but I think I may pull the trigger to eventually try custom ROMs. My question is: using this tool, will I immediately be able to run apps require root access? Can I then backup all my data and install a custom ROM (I've got all the OTA updates on my yet to be unrooted Tbolt)?

Thanks and happy hacking!

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

Here's where I read this:
HTC Expands Bootloader Unlock Compatibility – Incredible 2, Thunderbolt Make The Cut

and where you can access the tool:
HTCdev - Unlock Bootloader


I've yet to root my phone for a variety of reasons (mostly laziness), but I think I may pull the trigger to eventually try custom ROMs. My question is: using this tool, will I immediately be able to run apps require root access? Can I then backup all my data and install a custom ROM (I've got all the OTA updates on my yet to be unrooted Tbolt)?

Thanks and happy hacking!

First, let me just say that I have not tried to do this, so can't definitively answer, but...

Most likely no. This will unlock the bootloader, so you will still probably have to flash a recovery like Clockwork Mod to install ROMs, *AND* your current ROM will need to have Superuser app installed as well before you can run apps that require root. What I'm not sure of is how you would actually need to go about this... Maybe others here can help...?

 

[fatboy97]

First, let me just say that I have not tried to do this, so can't definitively answer, but...

Most likely no. This will unlock the bootloader, so you will still probably have to flash a recovery like Clockwork Mod to install ROMs, *AND* you're current ROM will need to have Superuser app installed as well before you can run apps that require root. What I'm not sure of is how you would actually need to go about this... Maybe others here can help...?

I agree with you Pete... and I have not tried this either since I've been rooted forever!!!

But also, since I've been looking in on the Galaxy Nexus and might get one in the next couple weeks... they not only unlock the bootloader, but then have to still perform a root process to allow them to load Superuser and Recovery... so unlocking the bootloader might not be the only thing you will need to do.

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

I agree with you Pete... and I have not tried this either since I've been rooted forever!!!

But also, since I've been looking in on the Galaxy Nexus and might get one in the next couple weeks... they not only unlock the bootloader, but then have to still perform a root process to allow them to load Superuser and Recovery... so unlocking the bootloader might not be the only thing you will need to do.

Exactly. Usually when people refer to "rooting" a device, there are actually 3 major steps involved:

1. Unlock the bootloader. This is more for "behind the scenes" kind of stuff, but is a very important step. A fully unlocked bootloader will let you flash radios and un-signed updates (which, by the way, I've read the HTC official unlock process will NOT let you do), but more importantly allows you to...

2. Flash a custom recovery. Think of the Recovery partition as a pre-install environment, kind of like a bridge between the BIOS and the OS itself. For those familiar with installing Windows on a computer, the Recovery environment is similar to the staging environment that you boot to from a Windows install disk. You basically have a minimal interface where you can mount and format disks, as well as install the operating system from outside of the live running Windows environment. The custom Recovery is what allows you to flash ROMs.

3. Root access. In the Linux world, "root" = "administrator" on a Windows computer. By default, most of your apps on Android run under the general user account, but just like in Windows, if you need to modify system files, you need elevated privileges for this. Granted, this is both a security measure, as well as a measure to keep idiots from complete jacking-up their devices! Once the OS has been "rooted", you can then grant root permissions that apps and/or processes that require it though the Superuser app. Pretty much every ROM out there has root access and Superuser app pre-installed.



Long story short, the official HTC unlock method only unlocks the bootloader, so you still would have to flash a recovery and gain root of your current OS if needed.

I can almost guarantee you a full method write up on just how to do this will be available very shortly...I'm just certainly not about to do this on my already rooted Thunderbolt.

 

[wildman]

Nice breakdown paintdrinkingpete

 

[ReverendOlaf]

Makes sense. I'm guessing on the whole it will make things much easier (and rather quickly given that the community can do it all already without HTC's help), but on it's own it's only part of the puzzle. I can wait (Id just go ahead and use Revolutionary if I was in a rush), but I've updated with the latest OTA and don't want to lose data (don't think I can back it all up w/o root access, which this doesn't seem to offer).

Thanks!

 

[SIGNAL7SEVEN]

Pete, do you have any experience with the HTC official unlocking process? I'm having an issue with it and I'm looking for some guidance. I get to the step where you enter the command to get your identifier token (step 8), and when I enter the command the response is command error. I am rooted and S-OFF using revolutionary, but I can't imagine that is causing issues. I have gone back through the steps and followed them very carefully. I even tried copy and pasting the command from the instructions page to make sure I wasn't typing it incorrectly. Don't know if anyone has seen this problem before and might be able to offer any insight.

 

[amangalick]

any experience with the HTC official unlocking process? I'm having an issue with it and I'm looking for some guidance. I get to the step where you enter the command to get your identifier token (step 8), and when I enter the command the response is command error. I am rooted and S-OFF using revolutionary, but I can't imagine that is causing issues.

You already have an unlocked bootloader. That is what you get when you use revolutionary, and that is what is meant by S-OFF.