HTC Thunderbolt Full Root and Bootloader Unlock Instructions

Uh Oh, looks like HTC has failed again. For some odd reason all these manufacturers insist on trying to lock down these devices. I think they should just embrace the custom ROM and hacker community. After all it’s extremely popular and has totally helped Android become what it is today. I’m just waiting for CyanogenMod Phone One to be released so we don’t have to ever worry about rooting ever again. (Happy Face)

 

The Thunderbolt was one of, if not the most locked down device from HTC to date. Apparently they made signed images, a signed kernel, and a signed recovery. They locked the memory too. As always the developer community has done what they do best, and that is completely take care of all the hard work for you. It is now fully rooted, as well as S-OFF. Fully unlocked. Team AndIRC has been working on this for the last 72 hours almost non stop. So feel free to thank them, or buy them a drink. Now we just have to wait a few weeks and you will all be able to run CyanogenMod 7 and overclock your Thunderbolts to 1.5+ Ghz. 

Now I’ve talked way to long. I’ll just go ahead and skip to the good stuff. I must mention that this is NOT for the faint at heart. These instructions are new, and just released. I’m sure easier ways will eventually show up, but for now this is it. Most people that will do this I expect to know what they are doing. As always, take extreme caution with anything in adb. Remember it voids your warranty, and enjoy it. Android Police, or AndroidCommunity hold no responsibility for your actions.

Rooting The ThunderBolt – Version 2

Pros

* Root with read/write access to /system
* Ability to downgrade and flash any RUU (i.e. signed firmware)
* S-OFF
* Fully unlocked bootloader
* All ThunderBolts survived testing

Cons
* Voids warranty
* Could brick your phone if you aren’t careful

• **** Remember to take your time and fully read all instructions. Make sure you have a full battery before starting.

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HTC ThunderBolt Perm Rooted

So we had a little look over at the XDA Forums at the root of the ThunderBolt before it was released, and yes, that is always impressive. But it wasn’t permanent! What we love to see is that permanence, the real test of weather the phone is really rooted or just wearing a Halloween mask. Well let me tell you what’s happened essentially overnight – perm root. Indeedy yes, it was user jcase who let the world know that with the first step being a showing on the 16th, the 17th at nearly midnight the real test was accomplished.

The first step was “a kind soul” coming to the AndIRC palace on the 16th of this month, March 2011. They had a release ThunderBolt and it did get tested there and it was confirmed that the Temp Root accomplished some time ago did indeed still work – this test was done because the original ThunderBolt used may well have had a different build from the one released on release day. It was this night that they first tested a permanent root, but the testing was not completed because everyone got tired and decided to go to sleep.

On the 17th, yesterday, a couple of production devices were purchased and writing to /system commenced. At first they did not have recovery working, and they toiled away all day! Then it came, at 11:35 PM on the 17th of March, aka ThunderBolt Day, aka the day the device was officially released, and they had it. They had permaroot. You can chat and have a nice coffee or whatever with the doers of these deeds over at http://chat.andirc.net:9090/?channels=#thunderbolt – or you can go back to the XDA Forum Thread where they announced their kingship and see when they’re going to release directions so you can do the same.

• UPDATE: Our pals over at Android Police have the lowdown, son!

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