HTC & Rooting

[MisterEd]

Haven't had an HTC device before. Currently have a Samsung SGS2. Question is about rooting. I have read HTC phones bootloaders come locked up tight an in order to root you have to have it unlocked ONLINE by HTC and have to give up all warranty rights.

Is this true or internet lore? ROOT and bye-bye warranty?

Never had a warranty concern w/Samsung because it is simple to return to stock condition.

 

[knighthawk321]

My understanding is that, as long as the phone can be reverted, you're good. I.E. They won't know, as long as it's reverted when you seek warranty service.

 

[MisterEd]

My understanding is that, as long as the phone can be reverted, you're good. I.E. They won't know, as long as it's reverted when you seek warranty service.

I'm very well aware of all that. However from what I have been reading with most all new HTC phones you cannot unlock the bootloader to get a permanent root unless you go to HTC's website and use THEIR UTILITY to unlock the bootloader FIRST. In order to do that you must sign away your warranty rights. They have a record of your IMEI plus your agreement to void your warranty if you unlock the bootloader. Doing that cannot be undone. Read here: HTCdev - Unlock Bootloader

 

[knighthawk321]

I'm very well aware of all that. However from what I have been reading with most all new HTC phones you cannot unlock the bootloader to get a permanent root unless you go to HTC's website and use THEIR UTILITY to unlock the bootloader FIRST. In order to do that you must sign away your warranty rights. They have a record of your IMEI plus your agreement to void your warranty if you unlock the bootloader. Doing that cannot be undone. Read here: HTCdev - Unlock Bootloader

It is plain that you know more about rooting than I do, which is understandable as I am far newer at the whole Android system, having merely my studies, discussions with friends who have them, and the opportunity to work a little bit on my wife's Inspire. I look forward to learning from you and all the other posters as I transition to Android (and, specifically, the Vivid) from this miserable BlackBerry I'm on now.

 

[ocanyc]

So whats the story with htc devices with locked bootloaders? Is there a workaround besides having to use the htc tool?

 

[rquinn19]

I think HTC's idea is great. You gotta pay to play. People bricking phones and then returning them ends up hurting the people paying for the phones in the long run.

That said...ATT still has to sign off on it and I doubt that will happen

 

[ocanyc]

You got to pay to unlock it too? gtfo, I'm one second from not buying htc no more.

I guess this article is wrong then.

HTC Ends Locked Bootloader Policy | PCWorld

 

[frmorrison]

The bootloader tool is for older HTC phones, from before the policy changed in September. I don't believe it costs anything to run the tool, just you lose your warranty.

I know it is easy to root HTC Inspire from ATT (a phone released in Feb 2011), you just run a tool and it has permanent root. The rooting community tries to make it easy.

 

[rquinn19]

I didn't mean pay as if your paying HTC for an unlocked bootlader. I'm saying if you want to unlock your bootloader and do things that the OEM didn't intend for you to do and risk bricking your phone then you shouldn't have a warranty.

If I play with the ECU on my car so it runs at a higher boost or raises the rev limiter do you think I should be able to go in for warranty repair when the engine blows?