[android] Using AlphaRev to get S-OFF

[SimpleSi]

I'm thinking about altering my partition sizes on my Desire to gain more room for apps in the meain phone memory and to be able to do this you I need to get to the "S-OFF" condition using AlphaRev.

 

The AlphaRev site is a paragon of geekness and doesn't bother with instructions but I found this one here for others.

 

The AlphaRev S-OFF process didn't touch my data or apps but do a Nandroid backup just in case

 

regards

 

Simon

Edited April 21, 2011 by ZeroHour

[danbuntu]

if you don't mind losing htsense you could install cyanogen mod which has a setting that automatically installs new apps to the SD - no need to go into the settings and click move to sd card.

[SimpleSi]

if you don't mind losing htsense

 

I'm way beyond that

I've been running CM6 since Domino made me do it back in Jan

 

And I've just "upgraded" to CM7 and decided to try the re-partitioning method of gaining more room for apps.

 

I've had a look at all the various methods and I think that keeping apps on phone memory and leaving SD card for data seems a good way to go (And since Cyanogen and other ROMs) are smaller than the original HTC one, there is is the scope to do this).

 

And the concept is simple () even if the execution isn't

 

Si

[SimpleSi]

There are instructions for doing the next stage (which is to actually change the partition structures)

 

but this

 

3) Flash HBOOT with your phone in fastboot mode (Back+POWER) -> 'fastboot flash hboot bravo_alphaspl.img' (change into the correct filename for the HBOOT you downloaded)

 

I can get into fastboot mode but I have no idea what

-> 'fastboot flash hboot bravo_alphaspl.img'

means

 

There is no flash option on the FASTBOOT menu

 

Any one help?

 

Si

[SimpleSi]

The trouble with this stuff is that its been invented by kids who are using their own language(s)

Turns out that "fastboot" is also a cmd line program for flashing the contents of the phone.

 

However, there is so much guff around that Google is not your friend

 

0th step as always is to do a backup (And in this case - wipe your cache as well as it won't fit in the smaller partition afterwards!)

 

So 1st step is to install the Android SDK (I did this ages ago to write apps - so I didn't need to do it )

 

Then follow the info hereFastboot - CyanogenMod Wiki and make sure that issuing the "fastboot devices" works.

 

I then made sure the bravo_alphaspl-cm7.img that I'd downloaded from AlphaRev was in the same directory and then I issued "fastboot flash hboot bravo_alphaspl-cm7.img'

 

I then did 'fastboot reboot-bootloader'

 

followed by 'fastboot erase cache'

 

I then went into recovery on the phone (using vol/up down and pwr to select it) and did a factory wipe/reset, wiped the cache and then a normal restore from the backup.

 

I got an error!!!! (But just a small one - because I didn't wipe the cache before taking the backup - therefore the old data was too big to fit into the new smaller /cache partition but it doesn't matter - you'll just save getting an error msg )

 

Hope this helps others

 

Si

@Domino OK - I've caught up to where you were 3 months ago - what's next

Edited April 13, 2011 by SimpleSi

[Domino]

Mr Si, why didn't you just ask? I could have saved you so much heartache ;-)

 

I didn't see the new CM7 table though, might have to give that a bash

 

Next - we Pressurize @tom_newton into joining the custom ROM club, as he's just bought himself an Android :-p

 

btw, did you grab yourself a LiveView?

Edited April 13, 2011 by Domino

[tom_newton]

One step at a time! Damn thing hasnt even arrived yet - it will come to my home address tomorrow between 8 and 6... yes, those hours when normal people work. Apparently I have to let them try in vain once before i can get it redelivered. Great.

 

Still dubious about not having keys.

[SimpleSi]

Mr Si, why didn't you just ask? I could have saved you so much heartache ;-)

You've got to push me out of the nest sometime

 

It only took me a few hours to work it out and now I've posted it on Edugeek maybe it'll save some other souls some grief.

 

did you grab yourself a LiveView?

One day you'll be married with kids as well

I bought a £10 phone backup USB charger last week and got the 3rd degree over that purchase!

 

Maybe you''ll sell me your old one when you get tired of it

 

Si

PS I don't think its a good idea for a smoothwall employee to be using a poxy (I mean proxy) stricken 'Droid

[SimpleSi]

Just for further info:

 

The AlphaRev site says there is a simpler method of just downloading the new .img file, renaming it and getting the phone to do the update (not forgetting to do the cache wipe and backup beforehand and the full wipe and restore afterwards)

 

I didn't do it that way but if it works then its a lot simpler than the method above.

 

regards

 

Simon

[Domino]

One day you'll be married with kids as well

 

....you take that back!

[fiendishlyclever]

Just for further info:

 

The AlphaRev site says there is a simpler method of just downloading the new .img file, renaming it and getting the phone to do the update (not forgetting to do the cache wipe and backup beforehand and the full wipe and restore afterwards)

 

I didn't do it that way but if it works then its a lot simpler than the method above.

 

regards

 

Simon

 

Having put new firmware on 2x Orange SanFrancisco phones the Desire posed a little more of a challenge but the Alpharev stuff is a doddle if you run from the ISO. Having got fed up of running out of application space I flashed the CM7 HBOOT image onto my phone and did a selective reinstall (you can't restore the cache as it has changed size). When the stable version of cyanogenmod 7 came out I decided it was time for a wipe and another fresh start. I was pleased with how much the phone did itself once you enter your google credentials.

 

If you have mastered fastboot you can change your startup screen as well (I have a Cyanogenmod startup screen). That's why I love Android - great for tinkering with

[JJonas]

Now done S-OFF on my phone. Running InsertCoin 1.1.2