The (Code) Den

Once you flash a ROM.. you can’t stop until you find a good one.. and of course root your phone and turn the security lock off. Specially if you are an open source person. Nothing helps you better than a console and a su command! So here’s the adventure of unlocking my HTC Desire (the same can be done on any of the listed phones):

• HTC Desire (bravo) 0.93.0001, 1.02.0001
• HTC Desire CDMA (bravoc) 1.06.0000
• HTC Wildfire (buzz) 1.01.0001
• HTC Aria (liberty) 1.02.0000
• HTC Incredible S (vivo) 1.09.0000 and 1.13.0000
• HTC Droid Incredible 2 (vivow) 0.97.0000 (Gingerbread only!)
• HTC Desire S (saga) 0.98.0000 and 0.98.0002
• HTC View (express) 1.09.0000 and 1.13.0000
• HTC Flyer (flyer) 1.10.0000, 1.11.0003
• HTC Sensation (pyramid) 1.17.0006, .0008, .0011 and .0012, 1.18.0000
• HTC Evo 3D (shooter) 1.30.0000 and 1.40.0000
• HTC EVO 3D GSM (shooteru) 1.49.0007, 1.49.0008
• HTC Thunderbolt (mecha) 1.04.0000, 1.05.0000
• HTC EVO 4G (supersonic) 2.15.0001, 2.16.0001
• HTC myTouch Slide 4G (doubleshot) 1.44.0007

Just for the info, the first is the official name, in the brackets is the codename and the numbers after are the versions of HBOOT supported, which you can see by booting the phone in HTC fastboot mode. On HTC Desire it is done by holding the Volume down key while powering the phone.

First of all, no one guarantees you that this will be successful, and you are doing it on your own risk. Since I’m writing this, clearly it worked for me. 🙂

Backup all your phone data! There are plenty of free apps that can help you on the Market. SMS Backup, Call Logs Backup...

I would recommend doing this using Linux. A lot better USB support, but we’ll explain it for the Windows guys also. 🙂

1. Uninstall HTC Sync or Doubletwist if you have any.
2. Windows Only: Download and install HTC Fastboot Driver.
3. Download Superuser 3.0 and copy it to the root of your SD card. We need to flash it later to gain root access.
4. Reset your phone to factory settings: Settings -> About Phone -> Factory Data Reset
5. Disable fastboot: Settings -> Power -> Fastboot
6. Turn on USB Debugging: Settings -> Applications -> Development -> USB Debugging
7. Get the HBOOT version. Turn your phone off, then turn it on again while holding the Volume down key and write down the HBOOT version. A screenshot below shows how it looks like, and on it you can read it’s version is 1.76.0004 
8. Download Revolutionary S-OFF & Recovery Tool. Let the download run, and fill in the form that appears below. Operating system, Device model and HBOOT version you have.
9. Be sure to run the app as an Administrator! In Windows log as an administrator, in Linux run it with sudo, or su yourself before running.
10. Once you run the app you will get the serial number. Enter it, and you will get the beta key from the Revolutionary website.
11. Enter the beta key, and follow the process.
12. At a point, Revolutionary will ask you if you want to download and install a Recovery Tool (ClockWork mod, to be specific), just type Y. (Internet connection needed.)
13. When you see the Revolutionary app has stopped, turn off your phone and turn it back on in Fastboot mode. If it has S-OFF set, you are ready to root it. In Fastboot, use the Volume keys to move up/down and select Recovery. Press the Turn On button and it will run ClockWork mod. 
14. Select by using the trackball Install zip from sd card
15. Choose zip from sd card
16. Find the su-3.0-efgh-signed.zip and select
17. Yes
18. When it’s finished, press back a few times, and reboot your phone. If in the list of apps you have Superuser, you have done it.