With all these new tools out, I know this will leave many people inexperienced with the technical stuff.
So, here's a "short" (1047 word
) write-up on some things.
1 - Recovery Mode
Part of the process of rooting the Thunderbolt is replacing the stock Android System recovery with "ClockWorkMod" recovery (CWM.) CWM has many more functions than the stock recovery. For the sake of this guide, i will use 4ext recovery as an example because it is 1 - More user friendly, 2 - Nicer, and 3 - Because I SAID SO! (Haha just kidding). You can install the 4ext recovery updater app from within the Thunderbolt Tool or Google Play. You flash 4ext recovery in the app.
You flash a ROM, Kernel, or other recovery zip using the recovery menu's install zip function.
If you are flashing a ROM, you must first wipe data/factory reset. Wiping system is optional. Use apps like Titanium backup to backup apps. It is also a VERY good idea to make a backup first before you flash a ROM and/or Kernel just in case something goes awry.
How to use recovery: Disable Fast Boot. Power off the phone COMPLETELY. (I usually pull out the battery, just in case.) Then, hold volume down and power until HBOOT shows. (You use volume buttons to navigate and power to select) Select recovery. It will then boot to recovery mode.
Here is the menu:
-reboot now (Simply restarts the phone.)
-install from sdcard
---choose zip from sdcard (Select a file on the SDCard to flash.)
---check md5sum of a file (Select a file on the SDCard and see its MD5Sum.)
---apply update.zip (Never used, it will install a zip named update.zip on the SDCard.)
---toggle signature verification (Only used if when you install a zip it says signature verification failed)
---toggle script asserts (Don't mess with this.)
-toggle usb storage (If you connect to the computer while in recovery you can disconnect/reconnect with this)
-wipe | format
---wipe data/factory reset (Wipes all user data like contacts, apps + data, sms/mms, but not things stored on the SDCard. Also wipes cache + dalvik.)
---wipe cache (Wipes cache, has no noticeable effect)
---wipe cache + dalvik (Wipes cache and dalvik cache, has no noticeable effect)
---wipe battery stats (Should never be used. It is proven this this has no benefit.)
---format system (Wipes system. If you do not flash a ROM after you do this, you will not be able to turn on the phone.)
---format data (Same function as wipe data/factory reset, but does not wipe cache or dalvik.)
---format boot (Wipes the boot image. If you do not flash a ROM or kernel after you do this you will not be able to turn on the phone.)
---format all partitions except sdcard (Does all of the above.)
---format sdcard (WARNING! This will wipe all data on the SDCard, like pictures, music, some app data, files, ROMs, etc.)
-backup | restore
---Backup (Backs up data, system (ROM), boot (kernel), and a few other small partitions.)
---Restore (Restores a backup)
---Advanced Restore (Lets you choose which partitions to restore - advanced users only.)
---Advanced Backup (Lets you choose which partitions to backup- advanced users only.)
-mounts | storage (May say unmount or mount below. Mount means you can edit/view partition through ADB, & vice versa. This has nothing to do with ROMs.)
---(un)mount /cache (Toggles your being able to view and edit the /cache partition via ADB.)
---(un)mount /data (Toggles your being able to view and edit the /data partition via ADB.)
---(un)mount /sdcard (Toggles your being able to view and edit the /sdcard partition via ADB.)
---(un)mount /system (Toggles your being able to view and edit the /system partition via ADB.)
-tools (The only thing you will likely use here is Fix Permissions, so I will only go over it. Most of the rest is dangerous and for advanced users only.)
---fix permissions | UID/GID mixmatches (Can fix force close errors, and sometimes boot loop errors.)
-info (Displays info about your phone.)
-power menu
---Reboot Recovery (Restarts the phone and goes back into recovery.)
---Reboot into Bootloader (Restarts the phone and goes into fastboot mode.)
---Reboot (Simply restarts the phone.)
---Power off (Powers off the phone.)
2 - Hboot, RUU's, PG05IMG's and Fastboot
Hboot is the menu you boot into when you hold volume down and power from a cold reboot. If you have a PG05IMG.zip on the SDCard, it will prompt you to flash it.
Depending on how you rooted, your hboot may be a little different than someone else's.
The three main functions used in hboot are Recovery, Fastboot, and RUU/PG05IMG flashing.
-Recovery
Boots to recovery mode.
-Fastboot
If you are connected to the computer, you can use this mode to communicate with the phone. (WARNING! Very dangerous. Advanced users only.)
It also has options to go to Hboot, Reboot, Power Off, and Reboot Bootloader (Restart into fastboot.)
-RUU's/PG05IMG's
A PG05IMG.zip is a file that Hboot will flash. They are typically used to flash radios, custom splash screens, etc.
An RUU is a file that has been leaked from HTC that was meant to be used to update the phone's software. These are also used for unbricking and unrooting. A PG05IMG.zip is only considered an RUU when it is signed and has all the files originally inside. An RUU will wipe all user data.
When you root (S-OFF,) it unlocks the hboot, letting you flash unsigned (non-RUU) PG05IMG's.
After any PG05IMG.zip is flashed, you should promptly remove it from the SDCard.
3 - ADB and Fastboot
The Android Debug Bridge, or ADB for short, is a command-line program that allows you to communicate with your phone. Fastboot lets you do the same, but only in fastboot mode.
With ADB you can push files to the phone, pull files from the phone, reboot the phone, and send commands.
You can find out more about ADB here.
Fastboot is typically used to flash files to certain partitions. It also has a few other advanced features.
You can find out more about fastboot here.
Happy Hacking!
So, here's a "short" (1047 word
) write-up on some things.1 - Recovery Mode
Part of the process of rooting the Thunderbolt is replacing the stock Android System recovery with "ClockWorkMod" recovery (CWM.) CWM has many more functions than the stock recovery. For the sake of this guide, i will use 4ext recovery as an example because it is 1 - More user friendly, 2 - Nicer, and 3 - Because I SAID SO! (Haha just kidding). You can install the 4ext recovery updater app from within the Thunderbolt Tool or Google Play. You flash 4ext recovery in the app.
You flash a ROM, Kernel, or other recovery zip using the recovery menu's install zip function.
If you are flashing a ROM, you must first wipe data/factory reset. Wiping system is optional. Use apps like Titanium backup to backup apps. It is also a VERY good idea to make a backup first before you flash a ROM and/or Kernel just in case something goes awry.
How to use recovery: Disable Fast Boot. Power off the phone COMPLETELY. (I usually pull out the battery, just in case.) Then, hold volume down and power until HBOOT shows. (You use volume buttons to navigate and power to select) Select recovery. It will then boot to recovery mode.
Here is the menu:
-reboot now (Simply restarts the phone.)
-install from sdcard
---choose zip from sdcard (Select a file on the SDCard to flash.)
---check md5sum of a file (Select a file on the SDCard and see its MD5Sum.)
---apply update.zip (Never used, it will install a zip named update.zip on the SDCard.)
---toggle signature verification (Only used if when you install a zip it says signature verification failed)
---toggle script asserts (Don't mess with this.)
-toggle usb storage (If you connect to the computer while in recovery you can disconnect/reconnect with this)
-wipe | format
---wipe data/factory reset (Wipes all user data like contacts, apps + data, sms/mms, but not things stored on the SDCard. Also wipes cache + dalvik.)
---wipe cache (Wipes cache, has no noticeable effect)
---wipe cache + dalvik (Wipes cache and dalvik cache, has no noticeable effect)
---wipe battery stats (Should never be used. It is proven this this has no benefit.)
---format system (Wipes system. If you do not flash a ROM after you do this, you will not be able to turn on the phone.)
---format data (Same function as wipe data/factory reset, but does not wipe cache or dalvik.)
---format boot (Wipes the boot image. If you do not flash a ROM or kernel after you do this you will not be able to turn on the phone.)
---format all partitions except sdcard (Does all of the above.)
---format sdcard (WARNING! This will wipe all data on the SDCard, like pictures, music, some app data, files, ROMs, etc.)
-backup | restore
---Backup (Backs up data, system (ROM), boot (kernel), and a few other small partitions.)
---Restore (Restores a backup)
---Advanced Restore (Lets you choose which partitions to restore - advanced users only.)
---Advanced Backup (Lets you choose which partitions to backup- advanced users only.)
-mounts | storage (May say unmount or mount below. Mount means you can edit/view partition through ADB, & vice versa. This has nothing to do with ROMs.)
---(un)mount /cache (Toggles your being able to view and edit the /cache partition via ADB.)
---(un)mount /data (Toggles your being able to view and edit the /data partition via ADB.)
---(un)mount /sdcard (Toggles your being able to view and edit the /sdcard partition via ADB.)
---(un)mount /system (Toggles your being able to view and edit the /system partition via ADB.)
-tools (The only thing you will likely use here is Fix Permissions, so I will only go over it. Most of the rest is dangerous and for advanced users only.)
---fix permissions | UID/GID mixmatches (Can fix force close errors, and sometimes boot loop errors.)
-info (Displays info about your phone.)
-power menu
---Reboot Recovery (Restarts the phone and goes back into recovery.)
---Reboot into Bootloader (Restarts the phone and goes into fastboot mode.)
---Reboot (Simply restarts the phone.)
---Power off (Powers off the phone.)
2 - Hboot, RUU's, PG05IMG's and Fastboot
Hboot is the menu you boot into when you hold volume down and power from a cold reboot. If you have a PG05IMG.zip on the SDCard, it will prompt you to flash it.
Depending on how you rooted, your hboot may be a little different than someone else's.
The three main functions used in hboot are Recovery, Fastboot, and RUU/PG05IMG flashing.
-Recovery
Boots to recovery mode.
-Fastboot
If you are connected to the computer, you can use this mode to communicate with the phone. (WARNING! Very dangerous. Advanced users only.)
It also has options to go to Hboot, Reboot, Power Off, and Reboot Bootloader (Restart into fastboot.)
-RUU's/PG05IMG's
A PG05IMG.zip is a file that Hboot will flash. They are typically used to flash radios, custom splash screens, etc.
An RUU is a file that has been leaked from HTC that was meant to be used to update the phone's software. These are also used for unbricking and unrooting. A PG05IMG.zip is only considered an RUU when it is signed and has all the files originally inside. An RUU will wipe all user data.
When you root (S-OFF,) it unlocks the hboot, letting you flash unsigned (non-RUU) PG05IMG's.
After any PG05IMG.zip is flashed, you should promptly remove it from the SDCard.
3 - ADB and Fastboot
The Android Debug Bridge, or ADB for short, is a command-line program that allows you to communicate with your phone. Fastboot lets you do the same, but only in fastboot mode.
With ADB you can push files to the phone, pull files from the phone, reboot the phone, and send commands.
You can find out more about ADB here.
Fastboot is typically used to flash files to certain partitions. It also has a few other advanced features.
You can find out more about fastboot here.
Happy Hacking!
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