yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] Discostrings:
Potential root method for HTC Merge

After doing a bit of research, I've found an approach to attempting to gain permanent root privileges on the Merge that seems fairly safe.

Basically, follow the main instructions for the most current method of rooting the G2 / Desire Z / Desire HD, but skip the hboot/recovery steps. If it works, it should be good for S-OFF, Super-CID, SIM-unlock (if other versions of the phone are SIM-locked; the Alltel isn't), and root.

Here's the procedure. Take path 4b (because we don't have an engineering hboot file) and skip the following line, because we don't have a recovery we know is compatible:

./flash_image recovery recovery.img

While a recovery would be nice, I don't see why the rest wouldn't work without one.

It doesn't sound too risky because the steps are:

Use psneuter to get temp root. I imagine at worst, this just doesn't work.

Use gfree to power cycle the emmc, which will restart in read/write mode. Probably in the worst case, this doesn't work and your device restarts.

Use root_psn script to copy busybox, su, and Superuser.apk to the now-writable system partition. I don't see how this would make your Merge unusable in a way you can't undo.

I don't need permanent root access so I haven't tried this myself. Please post your results if you try it. If you don't try it but see a reason this won't work, please let us know.

Disclaimer: I have not tested this. In fact, I am new to Android (although proficient with Linux). If you become the first person to brick a Merge, don't blame me for encouraging you or providing dangerous ideas.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] stoney_38668:
i tried using 2 different versions of gfree and its a no-go

doesn't damage device but i get errors and of course no root

thanks for the effort and the info discostrings
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] Discostrings:
Hmm. Thanks for reporting your results stoney!

Whatever allows gfree to work seems to be patched (which is why you need to downgrade the Desire Z and HD in the instructions).

There are Merge ("Lexikon") RUUs floating around from testing last fall with Verizon that seem to have software versions that gfree will work with (1.23 and 1.33). So the downgrade trick may be possible. However, I'm not familiar with the signing process, so I don't know whether the current Merge would recognize them as a valid "upgrade" after lowering the version number. Trying it would be pretty risky as there's no way I know to back up or restore the stock ROM.

I guess we'll need to wait for a dev to look at this, or at least for a recent stock RUU as a safety net. If anyone is looking for the Lexikon ROMs, I can provide links, but they were pretty easy to find with a search engine.

A question for any dev that stops by: are the Lexikon ROMs from the fall likely to be flashable to the current Merge via the version-lowering trick and will they work with gfree?
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] stoney_38668:
not feeling trying the downgrade yet so i guess I'll wait. my only concern is that the more time passes the more I get the feeling its not going to be picked up by a major carrier thus diminishing our chances that the device will end up in the hands of devs that want to tinker with it. a GREAT phone as-is though so no complaints from me.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] xPreSiDenT:
yeah thats what i fear as well. another month and if this thing cant do cyanogen mod im selling it. Its a shame though, having the best android qwerty phone and not being able to tweak it. anyone know wtf is wrong with verizon?
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] santimaster2000:
Where the hell can I found an Unlocked HTC Merge ?
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] ZooK4201107:
All u HTC merge owners. I'm working on my computer now with adobe. I will try to have us some new rooting programs soon. I got all u guys. I will keep u informed
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] ZooK4201107:
Sorry about the misprint. I'm using adb & getting it done with the HTC merge
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] ZooK4201107:
thats the same build and numbers i have bc i have the alltel merge also. do give up guys. it wont be long and we should have perm root
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] stoney_38668:
Hoping someone can crack it soon before the phone is obsolete and forgotton about. Such a good phone. I'm glad I can temp root and use wireless tether but I'd love CM7.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] xPreSiDenT:
If people are still developing for the G1 then i think we shouldn't worry about getting obsolete. Our phones are already way more obsolete than most people might think. But so are all the others, which were released about a month or two ago. We now have dual core phones and Sense 3.0. Sense 3.0 will not be coming to the HTC Desire S or the Incredible S.

BUT

The community will still port most of that stuff. hopefully. In the meantime, as merge owners, please show your support here. :D
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] stoney_38668:
What's really crazy is that the Merge isn't even on the HTC website yet. I emailed them and asked why and was told that the phone had not been released yet.....
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jsox79:
did you issue the command

adb shell /data/local/psneuter
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jsox79:
would like to flash a oc kernel to this device, just not sure which to use. this processor is capable of 1.5ghz atleast.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jshzigler:
I did these 5 commands from the guide in order.

adb push exploits /data/local

adb shell

chmod 0755 /data/local/psneuter

chmod 0755 /data/local/busybox

/data/local/psneuter
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jshzigler:
I wish someone could just make a video screencast guide.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jsox79:
Its really not that hard.

after you issue the last command, wait a few seconds and do

adb shell

you should see a # sign.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jshzigler:
Ok now I'm on step 12 of S-Off. When I run the command /data/local/wpthis I get a "The system cannot find the path specified" error in my command prompt. Is that normal?
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jsox79:
thats a unix command so you need to be in the shell, or type

adb shell /data/local/wpthis

adb shell tells command line to send the command to the adb shell rather than processing it itself

you can tell unix directories from windows because of the trailing slash

windows is c:\

unix is /home

on a further note, you can check and see if the file is there by

adb shell

cd /data/local/

ls

you should see the files from the exploits folder if not you need to push them over again
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jshzigler:
I'm on the very last step but every time I try to navigate to recovery it wants me to update again.

edit: It wasn't stated in the guide but you need to mount the SD card and remove the file "PD42IMG.zip" before navigating to recovery.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jshzigler:
Officially rooted. Thanks for all the help Jsox. Now can I use any rom or are roms phone specific.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] epc155:
I have a dumb question..... I love everything about my merge but it has terrible signal strength. Snce it can now be rooted, is there a way to improve my radio where it won't drop calls all the time? I hate to get rid of the phone, but it's dropping calls in areas I usually have full strength, which is really frustrating when you're trying to get buy a new house and talk to the loan company!!! Any help would be appreciated before I look into something different.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] 2fast4u88:
The merge cpu is capable of more than 1.5 ghz. If is indeed the same same cpu as the **** it can do 1.6 without a issue and upwards of 1.8. As for roms you can't flash any rom. I posted one in the testing stage built from sense.

Otherwise the kernel is going to be different from other devices. I am not sure exactly which is honestly that close to the merge. But the board config files are more than likely going to differ a good bit. In turn that means till no source code for the kernel is release you may not have anything but a sense rom.

As for the signal dropping off you can try flashing the different radios in the ruu's but it is recommend to flash the h-boot with the said radio.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
Thank You!!

Will give it a go thank you so much!!
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] madcaesar18:
On step 7 of Perm Root when I enter this:

dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0p25 of=/sdcard/system.img bs=4096

I get: 'dd' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program o batch file.

Help?
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jsox79:
make sure you execute that command from adb shell

to do so

type

adb shell

then type that command or type

adb shell dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0p25 of=/sdcard/system.img bs=4096
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jsox79:
the same proc as g2, should be able to steal the code from that kernel and apply it here. ill look into it and test it out, will post back. flashed your rom btw, nice, saved me the trouble and the icons and minor theme changes look nice. good job! still unable to do anything with setcpu is there another program worth looking at?
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] madcaesar18:
That was it! Thank you very much! I got it all done and it's rooted! Right now I'm doing the clockwordMod backup. Btw one thing the guide doesn't mention is you need to delete the PD42IM.zip file before you go to do the recovery thing, because otherwise it keeps wanting to update.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] madcaesar18:
Ok the root works! It's all up and running on my HTC Merge (US Cellular) Thank you very much for doing all of this! I have a couple of follow up questions:

1. Now that i have S off and Permanent root, does that mean I can install Android 2.3? Right now it's still 2.2. I don't want any custom mods, I actually love HTC Sense, I just want the new features. So can I do this, and not have to wait for US Cellular to push it out?

2. When US Cellular does push 2.3 out, does that mean my perm-root will go away, and I'll have to do this all over again? Are there some updates or something I should disable so that doesn't happen?

3. What do you guys recommend for removing all the HTC Bloatware on there, like HTC Faceebook, HTC Footprint and that crap?

4. Who was mainly responsible for getting this root, and how do I donate some money to him/her? Thanks again for doing this!
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jsox79:
How much $$ would we have to come up with to get some development.

How much $$ would we have to come up with to get some development.

Im sure there are several users here that would be willing to fork over some cash for some development.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] 2fast4u88:
The same cpu has nothing to do with source. Just like the desire there is several devices that have the same cpu even the gsm desire. Being the cdma desire is almost identical to the gsm desire and nexus one. Just the board is different for cdma where a few lib's are needed for the hardware.

With the merge being gsm and cdma I am willing to bet there will only be but a few things from the g2 kernel source that will work. Honestly you probably won't get any of it to work. All you guys got to do is contact htc demanding the kernel source but good luck as like 6 months later we are still waiting for the froyo source for cdma desires. As for setcpu not working I am not honestly sure why right off haven't got time to look at it.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] DK174:
An FYI for those who choose to contact HTC(I did). Go here.

http://htcdev.com/contact/
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jsox79:
lol you were correct in your assumption, but it did boot! ofcourse alot of things didnt work....

i did send htc a request, doubtful it will happen but everyone who goes to that site is a plus http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...com/contact/&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13129094254571
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
Help!

i booted into hboot it said update failed incorrect cid.

I chose mmc2:aaaa Reverse CID and entered the cid exactly as displayed

The sd is Sandisk 4gb HC (high Capacity) (fat 32)

what did i do wrong?
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jshzigler:
So are there any roms we can use with this device?
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] dillalade:
Great work 2fast and co.

Just had a gander at your guide.

Well I have an ALTEL HTC MERGE...... what do I need to do differently??

Thanks
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
CID?

Used 3 different SD cards now all fat 32 formatted and i still get,

Incorrect CID update failed every time.

WTF, something has got to be missing from the guide i've done it 6 or 7 times without error.:confused:
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] dave0812:
did you reverse the number when entering in for the gold card?? If i remenber right i did not.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
Nope, i entered it into the website exactly as it displayed on the goldcard helper app.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] dave0812:
i dont know what to tell you. my card i did it on ws one that came with the phone. But that was the problem i had when cid came up. 2fast told me i should redo my card and the was what fixed it.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
Got It.

Turns out antivirus wasn't allowing hex editor to actually edit, it showed no message or error though (weird).
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
Anyone tried the CyanogenMod on this yet??
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] iaminflames:
Success! Thanks for the guide, I am now rooted on my Alltel HTC Merge! Now we just need some custom roms and kernels :D:D:D
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
what would be the best place to request development for CyanogenMod on the merge?

Here?
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] heywheresmysnack:
Okay. My problem is this, My Alltel Merge now thinks it's verizon, and thusly is preventing me from sending MMS text messages. Any ideas?
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jsox79:
yeah flash your carriers ruu. theres a link on page 12 in the how to, it should be on the shipped roms site.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jshzigler:
So is there any rom that we can use with the merge or not?
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] 2fast4u88:
You need to have your carrier ruu flashed. The mms.apk probably has different strings for verizon. If like other phone from verizon they add stupid junk to the mms.apk for some reason. The other is possibly you apn info is not correct.

As for a rom I did one based on sense on my forum but have yet to be able to fix the backlight issue.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jplaidlaw:
jdk issues

i am currently running win7 home premium, i am looking to root the merge but i've downloaded several versions of java w/jdk, when attempting to install skd i get no jdk installed, anyone have any ideas as to what the issue is?

Edit: i should mention this is the 32 bit
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
http://download.oracle.com/otn-pub/java/jdk/7/jdk-7-windows-i586.exe
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
So any updates?

Anyone working on a port to the merge?

Perhaps a gingerbread port?
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] iaminflames:
I hope so. This thread really took off for a min now it's died down. We gotta keep the interest up!
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] santimaster2000:
We need a Merge Sub-Forum, without it, it's just about time for this to end up forgotten.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] Skaarg:
Glad there is now a perm-root for this phone. I just moved so still unpacking stuff, but once I get my computer desk setup hopefully I can root my device. It's my first android device so it's a new experience for me. Hope we get a 2.3 ROM soon.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] larrybagina:
Now that there is a root for the phone, does anyone know how to unlock the radio? I am fairly new to Android, but my old TP2 was radio unlocked, which came in handy when testing my SIM card before traveling. It would be nice to do the same with this phone :)
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] 2fast4u88:
http://www.2fastroms.com/viewtopic.php?f=83&t=181&p=2547#p2547 Gingerbread 2.3.4 with sense 2.1 is there with screen shots. On other carrier's but uscc you need to do a apn backup. Then restore it on that build.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
APN backup?

Could you help a beginner and link a guide?

Or perhaps make a guide similar to the awesome one you created for rooting the phone.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] xanfantasy:
The guide worked perfectly for me and the only problem I have noticed is a slight degrade in the antenna strength but it may just be me since I haven't had the phone that long.

If anybody tries the gingerbread update here and let us know the result. This is my first android and I was hesitant to do S-off and root so hopefully there will be good results from flashing roms as well.

Also, as a new user, I loved the intro video.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] 2fast4u88:
There is a guide at the link. I pulled the ruu apart and made it as a fastboot img so you don't have to make sure you have all the drivers and good stuff.

Apn backup and restore on the market. Do a backup of your apn info. Once ginger is installed reinstall apn back up. Then restore the backup file.

I don't really understand your post. If it be you flashed it or what. But uscc it is confirmed on. If you notice a signal lower try a prl update if one a different carrier. I think *228 should do it. Uscc might be a good idea also. Otherwise the dbm is likely the same or better but the dbm to icon is different in the framework.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] kylatay:
I got my phone rooted. Thanks for the guide and to the original guy to figure it out. It took me a long time to figure it out because it's a little confusing, but it does work.

It helps to read the forum posts before following the guide.

K
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] xanfantasy:
Well, there is the noobness showing.

I have a US Cellular HTC Merge, The guide I am refering to is the S-Off and root guide and I didn't notice the Gingerbread leak was posted to an HTC Merge subforum.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

I now have Ginger!!

i was wondering what steps do we need to take to get root again? (what part of guide)

Also would gingerbreak work?
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] mortodestructo:
[deleted because i ****ed up]
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] mortodestructo:
You have to flash the PD42IMG.zip that was inside of the ClockworkMod.zip from his previous post. Then, install the HtcMergeRootToolkit.zip from SD within ClockworkMod.

Don't know about Gingerbreak... probably wouldn't hurt anything, but I would definitely use this tried and true method first.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
got it thanks so much 2fast!

Now to get a customized ginger!!

I cant wait to overclock it.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] 2fast4u88:
We tried gingerbreak and superoneclick. Neither would root it but if you would read. It is in the how to root from the gingerthread. Click the show spoiler.

Edit: Might help if I go to the next page. Glad you got it. But please next time read :)
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
I did click show spoiler there just wasn't a link to the proper file, and i read everything:

Thanxs!
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] ok2much11:
Just used 2fast tutorial and rather easily gained s-off, root, and CWM.

From there.. used the link to get Gingerbread up and running! so far great! Thanks man!

Looking forward to customs!
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] iaminflames:
Got gingerbread on my alltel merge now and its working great!
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] iaminflames:
Bring on the custom roms!
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jsox79:
anyone have that gingerbread file, 2fast's website is down, and id appreciate if anyone could lend me the file, thanks.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
2fast's website works fine for me.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] jsox79:
its up today, lol, it was down yesterday. got a hosting suspended page.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] Merged:
Down again, with the following message:

Anyone happen to have the original zip they can upload somewhere temporarily? Just bought the Merge two days ago and am extremely excited these gentlemen have put the time and effort in to begin the modding process.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] drellisdee:
I have an easy overclocking done on vzw merge without kernel source. I need the output of

cat /proc/version

From alltel lastest froyo ota and uscc on latest froyo ota and on gb leak.

Please post here the output.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
"Linux Version 2.6.35.10-gd699855 (htc-kernel@and18-2) (gcc version 4.4.0 (GCC) ) #1 PREEMPT Fri Jul 22 04:25:17 CST 2011"

This is on the gingerbread ROM.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] iaminflames:
Woo let's overclock this mother! Already have ginger id love to use setcpu now
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] drellisdee:
I need a gb user to adb pull /proc/kallsyms and upload that file. Still waiting on version info on froyos too.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] iaminflames:
heres from my alltel merge with ginger:
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] drellisdee:
Password protected. Can u zip and just add as attachment.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] iaminflames:
there i edited my above post and attached it in a zip
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] iaminflames:
Let's hope we can get this thing overclocked real soon!
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] ok2much11:
Do you need it on a gb uscc merge too? Let me know I'll get it once at my pc

Also you said you need froyo too? Does that need to be rooted or will it work from a stock uscc merge.

(I have a rooted soff running gingerbread and a 2nd stock froyo merge. Both uscc.) both ready to be beefed up!
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] drellisdee:
Update on overclocking. Gingerbread kernel is unable to be supported at this time.

I have the vzw 2.6.32 one ready to go. I only have access to a test device till this evening. If altell users and uscc users want to overclock I need your info asap. Its specific to each kernel version and symbol addresses. I need it TODAY!!! Latest FROYO OTA only.

from root # shell

adb shell cat /proc/version

paste the output here marked with USCC or Altell

adb pull /proc/kallsyms

zip and upload ^^

if you are not rooted on froyo please post the info from about software version kernel please make sure there are no typos instead of the cat proc/version which requires root. The adb pull can be done without root.
[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] knownchild:
ill have uscc's in a few hours, just waiting to get off work.:D

No GB support yet nooooooooooo! lol, ill be waiting for GB but i will get the info you need from my girlfriends Merge b/c hers is untouched stock.