[HTC One S] Rapier:
Hi there.

As most of you already know, starting some time ago, CM team has decided to include a script check for firmware/hboot that will allow to flash a CM based ROM only on newer firmware/hboots (2.13.0000, 2.15.0000, 2.15.4444). This is valid for all 3.4 kernel based ROMs (CM 10.2, PACman, PA, Odyssey and so on). This check was introduced because some were reporting problems by flashing such ROMs on lower hboots and it was assumed that you MUST have the latest firmware in order to flash and run them.

This leaves few options for those having lower hboots: either upgrade to latest firmware OR not flashing the ROMs at all.

What if, someone has a lower hboot/firmware and IS able to run those ROMs without issues? The previous assumption that having lower hboot will make the ROM not working/booting is wrong...at least for me and I don't think I'm unique. I'm sure that there are more users having lower hboots that could run the latest ROMs without having to upgrade their firmwares. I'm on 1.06.0000 hboot S-On and I'm happy with it. I didn't had any single ROM flashed on my device that didn't run. I don't like the idea of being forced to upgrade (going through a procedure that for some proved to be difficult or bricked their phones) without needing to

Well there is still hope....

DISCLAIMER

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT I DO NOT RECOMMEND TO TRY THIS IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. EVEN IF FOR SOME USERS THE 3.4 KERNEL BASED ROMS WILL WORK ON LOWER HBOOT/FIRMWARE, CM DIDN'T PUT THAT CHECK THERE FOR NOTHING. I SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IF YOU FLASH SUCH ROM AND IT WON'T WORK. ALSO DO NOT REPORT ANY BUGS IN CASE YOU FLASH A ROM THIS WAY

Now, what people maybe thought already (but some don't know how to do it) is that you need to get rid of that script check in order to flash such ROM. Following the steps below anyone can get rid of the check and enjoy the newest ROMs without upgrading their firmware, presuming such a ROM will run on their firmware/device

Prerequisites:

In order to do this properly anyone will need two tools

- PPCGeeks Android Signer application (or similar) - DOWNLOAD

- Notepad ++ (or similar) - DOWNLOAD

Download and install both from links above then you're ready to go...

Steps to change the script & flash ROM:

1. Download the ROM of your choice and save it on your PC

2. Create a folder with a distinctive name (say CM 10.2) and extract the ROMs ZIP there

3. Look for the file "updater-script" located in \META-INF\com\google\android folder where you have previously extracted the ROM

4. Open the file using Notepad++

5. You will usually find the check for firmware at the beginning of the file and it'll look like something like below:

assert(getprop("ro.bootloader") == "2.15.4444" ||

getprop("ro.bootloader") == "2.15.0000" ||

getprop("ro.bootloader") == "2.13.0000");

That means that, only the users having hboot 2.15.4444, 2.15.0000 and 2.13.0000 will be able to flash that ROM, anyone else will be receiving an error and ROM won't flash

6. Delete those lines with Notepad++ then save the file

7. ZIP the whole ROM again and give the ZIP a name

8. Sign the ZIP with Android Signer then copy the signed ZIP on your phone's sdcard

9. Flash the ROM

This should do it and you'll be able to flash such ROM.

There is an alternative method of extracting the file from the ZIP, deleting the lines then putting it back in the ZIP...this will skip the unzipping and signing steps but depending on how you'll do it it could also give you script errors when flashing (Status 7 or Status 6 errors). Steps to be followed for this "quick" method are:

1. Extract the updater-script from the ZIP and save it on your PC

2. Edit it with Notepad++ like I've described above

3. Open the ZIP with WinRAR and navigate to the place where updater-script is (\META-INF\com\google\android) and delete it from the ZIP

4. Using drag&drop, take the modified updater-script and drop it onto the opened WinRAR window in the location where it should be. There will be a popup windows to confirm adding the file to the ZIP, just press OK.

5. Close the ZIP and flash it

Well many of you might already know and do this one way or another but there might also be some users that don't know how to do it and either ask for help in various ROM Development threads or just quit flashing the ROM

So this is for all those that would like to try the new 3.4 kernel based ROMs and don't know how to do it. It won't guarantee that such ROM WILL WORK on their devices, it just allows flashing it even if they don't meet the firmware requirements. If after flashing, the ROM won't boot or it'll boot loop, there's almost sure need for a firmware upgrade in order to run it.