[GUIDE] How to add root access & and keep official OTA updates | 4.16.401.10

mike1986. · May 18, 2014

Some users like to keep their phones running the most official and stock system. Sadly, current Superuser installation process is a little bit more complicated then it was in the past (f.g. su binary needs to be running as a daemon). Flashing official SuperSu package makes OTA updates for the particular device impossible to be installed, because every OTA package during the installation process checks the integrity (with SHA-1) of each file on the system partition. Current SuperUser packages are modifying at least one file on the system partition: system/etc/install_recovery.sh. With that modified file, OTA installation will fail and you won't be able to update your device with the latest software. Additionally, SuperUser access is not always enough. It's good to have adb secure disabled and this can be done in the ramdisk inside boot.img.

Device rooted with the above method should have no problems installing latest official OTA update because:
a) OTA update checks for files integrity, but it doesn't check if any extra files were added to the system partition
b) OTA update doesn't check the integrity of the boot.img, so you can even flash a custom kernel if you want

Keep in mind that once you change or remove any file from the system partition you won't be able to receive OTA updates. You can only add new files, but you can't modify/remove existing ones.

Details:

boot.img source: 4.16.401.10
Target device: HTC One M8 (0P6B10000)
Target device OS version: 4.16.401.10

Included in the package:

Latest SuperSu app (Superuser.apk) and binaries (su, daemonsu)
Proper init.d script to run daemonsu binary as a daemon
Special wp_mod.ko kernel module to disable HTC system RW protection
Proper init.d script to insert the wp_mod.ko module into the kernel
Busybox
Sysrw/sysro binaries

Custom boot image:

Disabled ro.adb.secure and ro.secure
Disabled USB debugging icon on statusbar
Enabled USB debugging by default
Init.d support
Removed trigger command to execute install_recovery.sh to prevent stock recovery from being re-installed after each system reboot

Installation guide (bootloader has to be unlocked)

Extract the downloaded .rar package (boot.img, stock_recovery.img, Root_and_BusyBox.zip and Read_Me.txt)
Flash custom recovery of your choice
Flash boot.img using fastboot flash boot boot.img command in the fastboot mode
Flash Root_and_BusyBox.zip package in the custom recovery
Flash stock_recovery.img using fastboot flash recovery stock_recovery.img command in the fastboot mode
Reboot the device

Credits:
Chainfire for the SuperSu
flar2 for the wp_mod.ko module

XDA:DevDB Information
[GUIDE] How to add root access & and keep official OTA updates | 4.16.401.10, Tool/Utility for the HTC One (M8)

Contributors
mike1986.

Version Information
Status: Stable

Created 2014-05-18
Last Updated 2015-02-28

lasikie · May 18, 2014

Cheers for this Mike but which file is it in your downloads section?

jody04c · May 18, 2014

Cheers Mike, Informative as always!

mike1986. · May 18, 2014

lasikie said:
Cheers for this Mike but which file is it in your downloads section?

Will be there very soon!

mike1986. · May 18, 2014

Uploaded

http://android-revolution-hd.blogspot.com/p/android-revolution-hd-mirror-site-var.html

lasikie · May 18, 2014

I was under the impression this would be an all in one tool but looks like I still need to do a few things in preparation of this.

I am currently completely stock. What are the exact steps I should take to install this?

mike1986. · May 18, 2014

lasikie said:
I was under the impression this would be an all in one tool but looks like I still need to do a few things in preparation of this.

I am currently completely stock. What are the exact steps I should take to install this?

Could this be any simpler?

Installation guide (bootloader needs to be relocked)

Extract downloaded .rar package
Flash boot.img using fastboot flash boot boot.img command in the fastboot mode
Flash Android_Revolution_HD_Root_and_BusyBox.zip package in the custom recovery of your choice
Reboot the device

lasikie · May 18, 2014

Installation guide (bootloader needs to be relocked) - How do I do this?

Extract downloaded .rar package
Flash boot.img using fastboot flash boot boot.img command in the fastboot mode - How do I access Fastboot mode?
Flash Android_Revolution_HD_Root_and_BusyBox.zip package in the custom recovery of your choice - When do I install this custom recovery?
Reboot the device

I'm not trying to be awkward just not use to some of this terminology and don't want to ruin my phone.

Maybe an idiots guide is what I need.

mike1986. · May 18, 2014

lasikie said:
Installation guide (bootloader needs to be relocked) - How do I do this?

Extract downloaded .rar package

Flash boot.img using fastboot flash boot boot.img command in the fastboot mode - How do I access Fastboot mode?

Flash Android_Revolution_HD_Root_and_BusyBox.zip package in the custom recovery of your choice - When do I install this custom recovery?

Reboot the device

I'm not trying to be awkward just not use to some of this terminology and don't want to ruin my phone.

Maybe an idiots guide is what I need.

http://www.htcdev.com/bootloader

Also typo in my guide, bootloader needs to be unlocked. Correcting now.

jorzavfa · May 18, 2014

Just a question, I remember that when i rooted my m7 or my one x, i had to reinstall all apps, and contacts were lost.. with this process does the info also is erase?

mike1986. · May 18, 2014

jorzavfa said:
Just a question, I remember that when i rooted my m7 or my one x, i had to reinstall all apps, and contacts were lost.. with this process does the info also is erase?

Unlocking the bootloader will remove all your data. If you have bootloader already unlocked, no data will be lost.

jorzavfa · May 18, 2014

mike1986. said:
Unlocking the bootloader will remove all your data. If you have bootloader already unlocked, no data will be lost.

Ok great yes thats true, well im not sure i just bought the phone and i havent touch it for anything, i will check if the bootloader is unlocked, which i think no ..

mike1986. · May 18, 2014

jorzavfa said:
Ok great yes thats true, well im not sure i just bought the phone and i havent touch it for anything, i will check if the bootloader is unlocked, which i think no ..

If it's a brand new device then it has locked bootloader.

4onu · May 18, 2014

If I already have rooted M8 and s-off ,supercid, but with another method is safe to flash boot.img and Android_Revolution_HD_Root_and_BusyBox.zip package? will assume can install OTA after?

mike1986. · May 18, 2014

4onu said:
If I already have rooted M8 and s-off ,supercid, but with another method is safe to flash boot.img and Android_Revolution_HD_Root_and_BusyBox.zip package? will assume can install OTA after?

Yes it's safe but I can't guaranty that the previous method you used won't prevent your device from installing official OTA update.

CrazyCypher · May 18, 2014

I rooted my phone using thod: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuHFcGvUjwA and s-off using this method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--Hlms1BuPg
If I do everything that is in this topicfrom you, will I be able to update through OTA? And do you maybe know when int. version will get the 1.54.401.9 update? I would like to do an ota and then flash latest arhd when it will be available...

mike1986. · May 18, 2014

CrazyCypher said:
I rooted my phone using thod: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuHFcGvUjwA and s-off using this method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--Hlms1BuPg
If I do everything that is in this topicfrom you, will I be able to update through OTA? And do you maybe know when int. version will get the 1.54.401.9 update? I would like to do an ota and then flash latest arhd when it will be available...

Yes, you will be able to receive OTA. I'm now doing a little update to the first post.

1.54.401.9 or newer will be soon available, also next ARHD will be based on it.

krihoum · May 18, 2014

mike1986. said:
Yes, you will be able to receive OTA. I'm now doing a little update to the first post.

1.54.401.9 or newer will be soon available, also next ARHD will be based on it.

I have a brand new HTC ONE M8, which is unlocked only. I didn't do any rooting yet
the details of the firmware are below:

HTC ONE M8 version 1.54.401.5
CID HTC_001

Can i flash the philz recovery then and do all your steps afterwards using the rooting_tools_htc rar file?

thanks

CrazyCypher · May 18, 2014

mike1986. said:
Yes, you will be able to receive OTA. I'm now doing a little update to the first post.

1.54.401.9 or newer will be soon available, also next ARHD will be based on it.

Thx for the quick answer... Also, the OTA will update everything, including firmware and everything right?
So after that I can easily flash the new version of ARHD without separately flashing new firmware, radio, etc?

mike1986. · May 18, 2014

krihoum said:
I have a brand new HTC ONE M8, which is unlocked only. I didn't do any rooting yet
the details of the firmware are below:

HTC ONE M8 version 1.54.401.5
CID HTC_001

Can i flash the philz recovery then and do all your steps afterwards using the rooting_tools_htc rar file?

thanks

yep

[GUIDE] How to add root access & and keep official OTA updates | 4.16.401.10

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Member

Senior Member

Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Similar threads

Top Liked Posts