What does this do (taken from the AphaRev website)?
HTC implemented security on their newer generation phones. This flag, called @secuflag, controls whether your phone has its NAND or flash unlocked. Most noticeably, S-ON (security on) will read-lock your /system and /recovery partition, to name a few. Also, secuflag controls whether zip files being flashed through recovery or fastboot, are signed by HTC.
Why would you want to S-OFF your device?
All processes that write to ROM since must pass a signature verification process. Unless your phone is in an S-OFF state, these will fail with a signature verification failed error. For example, if you want to remove programs that came bundled with your ROM you will need to have S-OFF implemented.
Are there any risks?
Understand that this patch writes to a "delicate" part of your phone. If, during the update process, the phone is switched off (or loses power) you may brick your phone. Bricking normally permanently destroys your phone. It is often unrepairable. You assume sole responsibility if anything goes wrong.
Who is behind this patch?
IEF is the project initiator and coordinator behind AlphaRev. Their web site is at
http://alpharev.nl/.
What is the version as of this writing?
AlphaRev 1.5
Preparation
I had unrevoked my phone before AlphaReving it. I will not describe the process of how to apply the unrevoked patch in this guide. For more information on how to apply it, point your browser to
http://www.unrevoked.com/.
The “I’m a risk taker" points and want the least points to follow to apply this patch
If you want to short circuit this guide you only need to work through points: 2, 4, 6, 8 – 12.
The steps
1. Perform a nandroid backup of your phone. This backup is not covered in this guide. One utility you may use to perform this operation is ROM Manager (Premium), another it Titanium Backup (Donate). You could use the backup if you need to restore your phone back.
2. Download the AlphaRev image from
http://alpharev.nl/. The hyperlink is called "AlphaRev 1.5 HBOOT reflash utility".
3. Use MD5 checksum software such as WinMD5Free (
http://www.winmd5.com/) to verify that the iso you downloaded matches the computed checksum (ensures that the file did not get corrupted during download).
4. Use an ISO buring utility such as ImgBurn (
http://www.imgburn.com/) to burn the ISO image your downloaded to your computer.
5. If you using a notebook computer to apply the AlphaRev HBOOT patch you should ideally ensure that it is fully charged.
6. Ensure that your phone is fully charged.
7. If you do not already have one, get an IRC client (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Internet_Relay_Chat_clients) list different clients for different platforms). Log onto irc server: irc.freenode.net, channel #alpharev. This is the electronic room where AlphaRev folk hang out and is the place you should head to if you have problems. Verify that someone is online. You may want to say hi and make the intent that you will be AlphaReving your phone known. Don’t be a bother though.
8. Connect your phone to the computer using the USB cable. It should be setup in such a way that you do not need to move your phone (which may, in turn, break the USB connection).
9. Boot your computer on the image you just burnt. This will load a Linux OS that makes the process an automated one.
10. The process consists of three stages. The first two stages verify that your phone is a candidate for the HBOOT path, and if it is the patch is copied to your phone.
11. The third stage actually applies the patch. This should take about 2 - 5 minutes. You should go make yourself a very hot cup of something and wait until it cools down sufficiently to drink it before you return to your phone. If, after 15 - 20 minutes, the prompt is stuck on point 3, work though point 12.
12a. Reconnect the USB cable physically, to another PC port if possible. If you're running the ISO from Virtualbox/VMWare, make sure to re-do the USB pass-through (disconnect/reconnect).
12b. Wait 2 minutes
12c. Press Ctrl-C.
12d. Type 'reset'.
12e. Type 'adb shell head -n10 /tmp/logfile' -> Check for 'hboot flashed successfully'.
12f-1. If 'successful' -> pull battery, boot with BACK+POWER
12f-2. If you get the above line, but it says 'error reading boot.old, or similar', you might need to restore your nandroid backup afterwards.
12f-3. If anything else, the people you had met at irc.freenode.net, channel #alpharev.
(note that point 12 is adapted from the file
http://alpharev.nl/instructions.txt)
Unless you are told by a respectable member of the AlphaRev channel to do so never power down your phone.
Conclusion
Many of the products mentioned here are free. Most have a donation page. Making a small donation helps them help others and encourages them to make available patches and enhancements for your benefit and the benefit of others. A few dollars (or Euros or whatever) spread over a number of the people mentioned here is a great thing. Please do it.
If you have any comments or would like to highlight inaccuracies or alternative routes please do so.
