HTC Desire S Official Thread Version 2



Reviews:
1. GSMArena: http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_desire_s-review-590.php
2. Engadget: http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/htc-desire-s-review/
3. Slashgear: http://www.slashgear.com/htc-desire-s-review-28142921/
4. Techradar: http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mo...s-930920/review
5. Phonearena: http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/HTC-Desire-S-Review_id2702


Pictures:



Specifications:


HTC Desire S Guide for Newcomers to Android:
This guide will guide you throughout your Desire S phone. What's the best app to use it on your phone, some tweaks and more!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1097538


How To: Check if your phone is S-OFF or S-ON and your HBOOT version
1. Disable Fast Boot. (Setting > Power > uncheck Fast Boot)
2. Turn off your phone.
3. Turn on your phone by pressing the power button and volume down button together.
4. You will see a white screen with "S-OFF" or "S-ON" and your hboot version on top of the screen.
NOTE: If your phone is S-ON, you won't be able to root or flash custom ROMs to your phone. To make it S-OFF, follow the guide below.


How To: S-Off your device with Revolutionary: S-OFF & Recovery Tool
Unrevoked and Alpharev present: Revolutionary Tool
Please also read the documentation page for this tool: http://unrevoked.com/rootwiki/doku.php/public/revolutionary
Does Revolutionary give me root?No. You will need to flash this zipfile from recovery.
NOTE: For HBOOT 0.98.0002, please use this guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1194488. Thanks to slvrbllt
S-OFF your phone using Ubuntu:
1. Download Ubuntu 11.04 from the Ubuntu site.
2. Burn image onto DVD/CD or create a USB Stick (I suggest creating USB stick since it loads faster, for me). (Follow instructions provided at the website to create a bootable CD or a USB Stick).
3. Reboot computer. Allow Bootup popup menu (usually F8?).
4. Select DVD/CD-drive or USB Stick to boot Ubuntu.
5. Wait a bit for things to load. Choose "Try Ubuntu".
6. Now, Ubuntu should load up successfully. (see screenshot)
7. Connect phone to your computer and make sure that Debugging Mode is enabled on your phone. Download the tool from http://revolutionary.io/ for Linux (Firefox included with Ubuntu). Keep that browser window open.
8. Extract the downloaded file and put it into the root directory (in Ubuntu, that's Ubuntu/Ubuntu, if I recall correctly).
9. Search for the Terminal (Windows key pops up the search, I think; otherwise, it's the icon on the top left corner of your screen), run Terminal.
10. Type in "sudo ./revolutionary" at Terminal.
11. It'll provide a key. Go back to the browser window where you downloaded Revolutionary tool - there's a form to fill out. Type in the key. It'll generate a second key. Type that key into the Terminal.
12. Make sure it says that everything is successful. It'll ask if you want to flash Clockwork. Type in "Y".
13. Once it shows success, reboot phone.

S-OFF your phone using Windows:
1. Download Revolutionary tool for Windows from http://revolutionary.io/ (Keep the browser open)
2. Extract the zip file to a new folder.
3. Connect phone to your computer and make sure that Debugging Mode is enabled on your phone.
4. Open the new folder and right click on "revolutionary.exe" and select run as administrator.
5. Follow steps from Step 11 above.
WARNING: S-OFF your device will void your phone's warranty. You will need to turn it back to S-ON for warranty. (I don't have a guide to make it back to S-ON right now, so do it as you wish).
S-OFF Video Below:



How to: Root your device
1. You can achieve root by using Gingerbreak. Follow this link and guide below:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1044765
2. Or, you can flash this zipfile from recovery (Source: http://unrevoked.com/rootwiki/doku.php/public/revolutionary).
(You can skip this if you're about to flash a custom ROM since custom ROM are pre-rooted. Unless you want to keep your original ROM, use this to root your device.)


Custom ROMS:
Virtuous Unity Sense 3.0 based on Pyramid
SAGA LBC MOD (Sense 2.1+3.0/OC/UV/FAST/STABLE
CoreDroid Desire S GB 2.3.3 |SENSE|STABLE & FAST|MDJ Kernel|ONLINE
CyanogenMOD 7.1 from Inc-S
MIUI ROM
BeatMod FlyerSense
(Most of these ROMs are pre-rooted which means you don't need to root your phone. It's already rooted once you flash these ROMs.)


How To: Flash Custom ROMs using Recovery (Method 1)
(You can use your default recovery from Alpharevx but I recommend using 4EXTRecovery)
1. Copy your custom ROM "zip" file to your SD card (Root directory).
2. Turn off your phone.
3. Turn on your phone by holding the power button and the volume down button together.
4. Once you see the white screen, choose "Recovery"
5. Make a full wipe/format and clear all cache.
6. Choose "install from sdcard/zip file" and then choose your Custom ROM zip file from your SD card to flash your Custom ROM.


How To: Flash Custom ROMs using ROM Manager (Method 2)
(This method might be easier for flashing ROM updates or add-ons)
1. Go to ROM Manager (You can install this software from the Android Market.)
2. If you want to use 4EXTRecovery, please follow steps below, and if you're not using 4EXTRecovery, please skip to step 6)
3. Press your phone's option's button and choose Manual Flash Override.
4. Press OK and choose your phone model.
5. Choose ClockworkMod 3.x (After these steps, your ROM Manager won't ask you to flash new recovery again when flashing new a ROM)
6. Reboot into Recovery and make a full wipe/format and clear all cache then reboot.
7. Now, from your ROM Manager, choose Install ROM from SD Card.
Note: Flashing ROMs can be vary, some custom ROMs may require you to flash some of their own file first. Eg, The LBC Mod ROM requires you to flash "WIPE zip file" before flashing the ROM. Read their instructions to know better.

NOTE: I am not responsible for any faulty or bricked devices after S-OFF or flashing new ROMs. Do it at your own risk.
Video Flashing Custom ROM below:




How to: Flash Radios
1. Download your Radio zip package.
2. Copy your Radio zip package to your SDcard root directory and rename it to PG88IMG.zip.
3. Turn off your phone and turn it back on by pressing volume down and power button together (You need to turn off fastboot under phone settings > power options).
4. Once you're in hboot, the bootloader will ask you if you want to install radio.img.
5. Press confirm and reboot your device.
Note: You must delete your Radio zip package or rename it to something else when booting your phone after flashing new radio image since the bootloader will always try to flash if a PG88IMG.zip file is on your SDcard.


Where to buy?
From Maxis: http://www.maxis.com.my/personal/android/A..._WhereToBuy.asp
Market Price for AP set should be around RM1300 or less and RM1600+ for original if you don't want to get it from Maxis. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) Based on current price date at 10, July 2011.


FAQs:
1. What's S-OFF and S-ON?
- If your phone is S-ON, you won't be able to root or flash custom ROMs to your phone. S-OFF let's you to have full control of your phone.
(NOTE: S-OFF is not ROOT, S-OFF your device does not mean that your device is Rooted. They are totally two different things.)

2. How can I backup all my apps and apps' data files before flashing a new ROM and wiping all my datas?
- You will need to root your device first using Gingerbreak(see above). And then, install Titanium Backup and use that to backup all your apps and your apps' data files.

3. I have WiFi death grip/Wifi signal drops when I hold my phone in certain ways.
- There are no 100% right fixes yet for this issue but give it a look here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1175646

4. Is it possible to install 4EXTRecovery/Flashing ROMs/ROOT on Desire S with S-ON?
- No, it is not possible. You must/need "S-OFF" to customize your device.

5. I've just received this system update OTA - 1.47.61.1 or later. If I install it, will I loose my S-OFF and root?
- Yes, you will lose both S-OFF and root once you update because it will update the hboot to 0.98.0002. However, you can try following this guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.p...608&postcount=5 to update the OTA but not the hboot. Check this one out also http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1190992 and http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1194488 to S-OFF and root if you have updated the OTA.


Final Notes:
Can't find the right guide? Request it here. Any Problems or Questions? Ask around this thread. But please read the FAQ first before asking, it usually helps.
I also want to say thanks to those people who contributed to this thread. Enjoy your phone! Guide ported from XDA, it may contain errors on this thread, check out my official thread on XDA for more.

WARNING: Please follow those steps carefully, it usually works if you do it properly. However, I am not responsible for any faulty or bricked devices. Do it at your own risk.

This post has been edited by nodeffect: Sep 27 2011, 03:32 PM

Hi,

Regarding the S-OFF or S-ON, i turned on my phone by pressing the power button and volume down button together, and letting go the same time, but i didnt see anything on or off... what happened?

^pull battery and try again. HTC's quick boot feature getting in the way I suspect.

Thanks that worked for me. But S-OFF is not a must is it? (Just making sure..) Its unless i want to Rom right?

unless u need a custom ROM or you want your phone to be rooted.

any1 using papago ??? how was it ??

hye. .
what is actually "S-OFF or S-ON"??i'm a really new about android and all of this.huhu

Hi, want to ask, can this phone make normal video call?

S-ON means that it is locked by HTC and you can't root your phone or install custom ROM into your phone, basically you're stuck with their stock ROM and not able to root it at all.

You can only make video calls through using apps...

Thanks for the answer

Post copied from V1, hehe ...

I live near BB, so might get my DS from Lowyat, but not sure either an Ori or an AP.
For Ori, does it sound proper for me to get the IMEI number from dealer and call BrightStar on spot (during weekend) to check the warranty card before paying?
For AP, what does it mean by "AP warranty card"? The warranty card issued on the name of the dealer? Sounds as if the card will be void if the shop suddenly closes down.



Currently in a trade-off between data usage and network coverage.
I'm a Hotlink prepaid user with call and SMS controlled below RM20/month. In future, my data usage will be up to 1GB/month.

Here comes the divergence:
Maxis plan with phone (RM30 + RM78) and with risk of extra charge w/o notification. Phone at RM1309 (assuming 1-yr contract). LESS BUDGET-FRIENDLY.
Digi plan w/o phone (RM68 + RM20), with unlimited network access. Phone at RM1700 (or AP around RM1350). MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT BE 24/7.

Between the risk of horrifying additional charge (proven by some Maxis users) and the risk of poor coverage (claimed by some Digi users), which option should I go for? Is Digi service really that poor?



It means the battery needs time for 'orientation'?



I wonder that also. Any solution to make the switcher totally manual?

DIGI service is moderate, you can notice that 3G is disable on most places even at MidValley, it's not using 3G for data. But for some places it is working well. Depends on your preferences.

Regarding the battery, it can last me for 2 days for normal usage. When I first bought it, I full charged it and use it all until the phone shut down itself and then fully charged it again. Repeated it for 2-3 days.

The mobile data does not turn back on on me after restarts. I don't know whats the problem but you can try flashing a custom ROM.

Hope this helps.

You can try "Tango" or "skype" which is available for both iPhone and android, download from the Market.

This post has been edited by nodeffect: Jul 11 2011, 01:04 PM

WTF... been away for a couple of days suddenly now can S-Off?? Will try at home later.

Also it seems that HTC is almost done with their official bootloader unlocking for Evo 3D and Sensation. Desire S will get it much later based on this sentence on facebook.

"We'll continue rolling out the unlocking capability over time to other devices as part of maintenance releases and new shipments."

This current S-Off method can S-On back..? If i not mistaken it is not and TS should put some kind of warning...

Correct me if i'm wrong...

Thanks for your advices... added warning message.

if i failed during the rooting progress will it brick?? and if it bricked can i redo the progress to un brick the phone?? .

if the rooting same like flashing cfw into nokia phone then i dont have to worry cause i can keep flash until it work

as far as I know, rooting won't brick your device, if rooting fails you can always try to root your phone again.

ok thanks im searching the undo tutorial once i get it i will root my phone

Well that was easy LOL. Now to root!

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Added on July 11, 2011, 7:41 pmAnd done rooting with Gingerbreak!

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Added on July 11, 2011, 8:04 pmSorry if i'm too excited but can't help it since it's just too easy even if i was a virgin to Android rooting!


This post has been edited by Joseph Hahn: Jul 11 2011, 08:04 PM

Congratz!!! Have you flashed a custom ROM yet ? or you just s-off your phone and root it ?