[HTC EVO 3D] ramjet73:
This Quick And Dirty Evo 3D/V Root & S-OFF (QADERSO) guide is for current Sprint and Virgin Mobile (VM) S-ON users, rooted or not, who want to get to a rooted S-OFF configuration of the Sprint or VM ICS stock ROM. There are many other ROM and bootloader options that can be pursued from there.

I know that there are similar guides available already, but this one is going to be simple with no choices. If you want another recovery or aren't on Sprint or VM go check out one of the other ones, because this is the "Model T" of guides and will get you exactly the following configuration, which I believe is the best base for the Sprint Evo 3D or Virgin Mobile Evo V at this time:

1. Rooted Sprint ICS build 2.89.651.2 or VM ICS build 1.13.652.2

2. 4EXT Recovery with Updater or Control App

3. JuopunutBear S-OFF with JBear Sprint ICS (1.58.5858) bootloader or JBear VM ICS (1.57.5757) bootloader

If you want to modify this configuration and know how, feel free, but I'm only documenting how to get from your current configuration, whatever that is, to the one above. I am providing tips and references if you get stuck, but please don't ask about other configurations, recoveries, etc., in this thread.

Should you decide to modify the procedure, please explain that in any post made in this thread for assistance. That's your choice, but it would help me and any one else trying to provide support in this and other threads to have that information.

There are tips and references for each step at the end of this post in case you get stuck, but if you read all the instructions and follow this procedure carefully, hopefully you won't need them.

Prerequisites:

1. Sprint Evo 3D or Virgin Mobile Evo V phone that is S-ON, on any ROM, rooted or not.

2. Windows PC or notebook to run the utilities and access the websites.

3. MicroUSB to USB cable to connect the phone to the computer.

4. Shielded wire for the JuopunutBear wire trick.

5. Something to drink while the RUU.exe runs for about 10 minutes.

Before you start, download the QADERSO-V2-S.zip (mirror) file (for Sprint users) or QADERSO-V2-VM.zip (mirror) file (for Virgin Mobile users) and unzip it to somewhere on a Windows PC. It includes all the software you need to complete this procedure.

If you would like a Microsoft Word version of this guide and detailed instructions for the JuopunutBear wire trick, you can download it from here. Thanks to mpgrimm2 for putting that together.

Flashing the RUU.exe in Step1 will reset all the partitions on your phone except those on the SD card so I'd also recommend backing up anything you want to keep to the SD card before starting. If you don't have root yet, MyBackup is a good alternative to Titanium Backup and other utilities that require root.

***Step1: Install ICS RUU

If you are using this guide with a new/replacement unrooted phone you can go to Step2 since flashing the RUU returns the phone to the same stock configuration. VM users should apply the OTA update from the "System updates" options in system settings before starting Step2 if it hasn't already been done since that requires a stock configuration.

Start by installing the Sprint 2.89.651.2 RUU.exe or Virgin Mobile 1.13.652.2 RUU.exe from Windows. It doesn't take much longer than flashing a stock ROM and includes all the firmware so the phone will be totally in sync with the official ICS build. Flashing the RUU can also resolve problems with the HTC unlock process if the OTA was used to update to the official Sprint ICS version or a custom recovery and ROM have already been flashed.

If you are already HTC unlocked, relock the bootloader using the "fastboot oem lock" command. You should know how to run fastboot commands from a PC if you have already unlocked.

If you have never HTC unlocked or have relocked successfully, connect the phone to the PC via a USB cable in "fastboot USB" mode then run the RUU.exe from the /QADERSO/RUU directory in Windows. The program has a GUI interface and is pretty much self-explanatory, but there is a readme.doc in the same directory that covers the process and possible errors.

***End of Step1

***Step2: HTC Unlock, flash 4EXT recovery and superuser

Navigate to the /QADERSO/Root directory and open a command prompt by clicking on the "cmd" file in that directory. If you have HTC Sync installed go to the Windows control panel and uninstall just the sync program but leave the drivers installed. This is required by the JuopunutBear utility in Step3. If you don't have the HTC Sync program or drivers installed and are not using Windows 8, double click the HTCDriver3.0.0.007.exe file in the /QADERSO/Root directory to install only the HTC USB drivers. If you are using Windows 8 and don't have the HTC USB drivers already installed a compatible .exe setup can be downloaded here.

If you have never done the HTC unlock procedure, go to htcdev.com and signup then follow the instructions to get your bootloader unlocked. The programs you need to do the HTC unlock procedure are already in the /QADERSO/Root directory, so you can skip step 5 on the htcdev website.

If you have already HTC unlocked, you know the routine and need to do it again after flashing the RUU. You can use the same unlock_code.bin from your previous unlock.

Put the phone in "fastboot USB" mode by removing/replacing the battery, holding Power+VolumeDown buttons until the bootloader starts up, highlighting the "fastboot" entry by using the VolumeUp/VolumeDown buttons to navigate, selecting it with the Power button, then connecting it to your computer. The "fastboot" status should change to "fastboot USB".

When the phone is in "fastboot USB" mode, enter the following commands from the prompt:

"fastboot devices" (should show the serial number of your phone, beginning with "HT")

"fastboot flash recovery recovery.img"

"fastboot boot recovery.img"

After the phone reboots into 4EXT recovery, select the "toggle usb storage" menu item from 4EXT recovery and copy the SuperSU-v0.96.zip file from the /QADERSO/Root directory on the PC to the root of the SD card on the phone. Eject the SD card from the PC and go back to the main menu of 4EXT.

Flash SuperSU-v0.97.zip from 4EXT recovery using the "Install from sdcard" menu item and selecting it from the root of the SD card. Go back to the main 4EXT menu and select "reboot now" from 4EXT and perform the initial setup of the stock ICS ROM after the boot completes.

Your phone now has the 4EXT custom recovery and a rooted stock ICS ROM with SuperSU.

Once the procedure is complete and you've booted into your rooted, stock configuration, you need to install either 4EXT Recovery Updater from the 4EXT website, or better yet purchase and install 4EXT Recovery Control from the Play Store. Then use the update function in the app you chose to get the current version of 4EXT.

You should start the SuperSU app to make sure it is working properly and updated to the current version. BusyBox also needs to be installed from the Play Store for 4EXT and other root apps and I recommend the installer by Stericson.

***End of Step2

***Step3: Perform JuopunutBear (wire trick) to get S-OFF status

The wire trick is not difficult, but it can be a little confusing. It would be worth spending a little time reviewing the tips and references for Step3 at this point so the process goes smoothly.

Connect the phone to your PC with your stock rooted ROM booted and the USB debug option on in the developer settings.

Navigate to the /QADERSO/JBear directory, right click on controlbear.exe and "run as administrator", and then follow the prompts on the PC and the phone screen. Make sure to have an insulated wire ready for the wire trick, and select the JBear version of the bootloader when that prompt comes up. Yes, it's really that easy to get S-OFF.

If you flash a stock bootloader later it will show ***LOCKED*** as the status, but that's usually not a problem if the phone is S-OFF. It's actually good since that means there is no indication that the phone was ever unlocked, unlike the ***RELOCKED*** status after doing the HTC unlock/relock. By selecting the JBear version of the bootloader, the same fastboot commands will be available from a PC as with an unlocked bootloader.

You may have to activate your phone again after performing the wire trick. That is normal and should be done automatically from the phone on your first boot if it is required.

***End of Step3

WARNING: When you are S-OFF, PG86IMG.zip files can be flashed from the bootloader without being signed, which means you can flash any bootloader or firmware you want. But be careful and always make sure the stuff you are flashing is designed for your phone, or you may have serious problems if you force something to flash that was designed for another carrier or phone.

If you need to change the bootloader (hboot) version to run GB or AOSP ROM's you can find them in post #7 of mpgrimm2's thread on bootloader differences. There are instructions in this post for how to flash another bootloader with this configuration in place if you used this guide.

The following informational posts have been added to this thread:

1. Troubleshooting RUU.exe problems

2. Security questions about rooting and S-OFF

3. S-ON versus S-OFF

4. Information for users already S-OFF

5. How to change bootloader (hboot) when S-OFF

6. Temp root for current GB users

7. Recovery Comparison: TWRP2 versus 4EXT

8. Returning to stock configuration

9. Information on the Aroma installer

10. Updating 4EXT Recovery

11. QADERSO Version 2 with Virgin Mobile added

12. OTA Updates for Virgin Mobile users

13. OTA Update for Sprint users

14. Information for Linux users

15. JuopunutBear update

Please post any suggestions for making this process simpler and easier in this thread, but I intend to keep this guide as barebones as possible.

Tips and References for Step1: Flashing the RUU.exe

Tips

1. Make sure to put the phone into "fastboot USB" mode in the bootloader by removing/replacing the battery and using VolumeDown+Power to boot into the bootloader. The RUU is also supposed to work if you connect the phone to the PC while booted into Android, but I've found fastboot USB to be more reliable.

2. If you get a 17x error it has something to do with the USB connectivity. Make sure your phone is properly connected to the PC and in "fastboot USB" mode and try again.

3. If the RUU.exe stops in the middle of flashing the update, it's OK to cancel the Windows utility and restart it. This has happended to me a few times when I've had custom bootloaders installed.

References

1. HTC Readme.doc for flashing an RUU.exe is in the /QADERSO/RUU directory.

2. Download for HTC driver installer compatible with Windows 8.

3. The mpgrimm2 guide for flashing RUU's.

Tips and References for Step2: HTC Unlock, Flashing 4EXT Recovery and Superuser

Tips

1. On current Windows systems you can open a command prompt in a specific directory by using Windows Explorer to navigate to that directory and pressing Shift+MouseRightClick on blank area, then selecting "Open a command prompt here".

2. Make sure the phone is in "fastboot USB" mode and the bootloader has been HTC unlocked after flashing the RUU.exe or the fastboot commands will fail.

3. If you need to manually boot into recovery it can be done from the bootloader.

References

1. The HTC unlock overview diagram is in the /QADERSO/Root directory

2. The mpgrimm2 guide for flashing recovery and superuser.

3. The HTC Developer website.

4. The 4EXT Recovery website and HTCEvoHacks installation instructions for 4EXT Recovery Updater with video.

5. Instructions for installing 4EXT apps.

6. The SuperSU XDA thread.

Tips and References for Step3: JuopunutBear (wire trick) S-OFF Method

Tips

1. Watch this zedomax video and this timing video before attempting the wire trick and it will be a lot easier.

2. Make sure to backup your SD card to a PC before using it for the wire trick.

3. Remove the back cover to prepare for the wire trick but make sure to watch the phone's screen for superuser requests that need to be approved.

4. Do not touch the uninsulated part of the wire with your fingers while performing the wire trick.

5. Only short taps are required for the wire trick.

6. If unsuccessful with the wire trick try a smaller capacity SD card.

7. If the SD card used for the wire trick gets corrupted it can be reformatted and restored from the backup on the PC.

References

1. JuopunutBear overview, basic instructions and prerequisites.

2. JuopunutBear instructions and downloads for the Evo 3D.

3. Troubleshooting and Support pages on the unlimited.io website.

4. JuopunutBear thread on XDA.