This just became possible with
HTC dev's release of the unlocked bootloader for the Wildfire S. I don't take credit for coming up with this method, just for consolidating it here for those interested. Credit goes out to the guys at xda developers for each step.
Please note that this method does involve the possible voiding of your warranty, so be certain that you are willing to risk that to root your phone. Moreover, you proceed at your own risk. I accept no responsibility for what you do with your phone. All I can say is that I got it to work on mine, and so have many others.
You will need patience and time, and you'll need to know how to use SDK tools for Android. If you are a total noob, I do not recommend this for your first project! If you try anyway and get confused with terminology, try looking here for answers:
Terminology - CyanogenMod Wiki.
Before beginning, make sure that
SDK tools for Android,
Java runtime, and
HTC Sync are installed on your Windows computer. If you run Mac, I can't help you. I avoid that stuff like the plague.
1. Perform a full backup your phone's data as you will be doing a factory reset.
2. [OPTIONAL] Update software version to 2.3.5
I recommend updating to 2.3.5 before proceeding (if possible), though you can root a 2.3.3 device. If you decide to root 2.3.3 now and install 2.3.5 later, you'll loose your root and have to run step 4 over again. If a 2.3.5 update is unavailable for your phone through HTC FOTA updates and you're willing to do some work, check out this
thread at xda-developers to install the European 2.3.5 RUU which is known to work with most A510e phones even from other regions. And don't forget to press the thanks button if it works for you.
3. Unlock your bootloader at
htcdev.com
The next step is to head over to htcdev.com and follow the procedure there to unlock your bootloader. This is the step that can void your warranty!
3A. Getting started Create an account at htcdev.com and login. After clicking the "unlock bootloader" icon and "Get Started" button, select your phone from the list (HTC Wildfire S *, right?). The asterisk (*) means that your phone requires an HBOOT update (step 3B below). Finally, click the "Begin Unlock Bootloader" button. Fill out all the nasty forms telling HTC that it's perfectly fine with you to void your warranty by doing this process.
3B. Updating your HBOOT Read the "Bootloader instructions" page carefully. Then choose the correct RUU for your phone's carrier and model number (ie, PG76xxx00). The model number for your phone is found under the battery minus the final two 0s. If you've successfully upgraded to the European 2.3.5 RUU in step 1 above, the corresponding HBOOT update (HTC EU) should work for your phone. It's the one I used for my Asia A510e/PG76100. Re-read the instructions and then follow them.
Once the HBOOT is successfully updated, when you boot your phone into bootloader (turn it off, pull and reinsert the battery, hold volume down and press power button) you'll see ***_LOCKED_(OOW)_*** ("Out Of Warranty"?) at the top of the screen and and H-BOOT-1.08.0099 below. Move on to 3C below. But, if you run into problems...
If you can't find an RUU for your phone/carrier, try a generic RUU for a phone of the same model. These will start with "HTC" instead of a carrier name. Again, make sure that it's for the same model (ie, PG76xxxx) as your phone.
If you get errors trying to update with the RUU executable (ie, 171-USB error, 191-ROM Not Supported) chances are you can overcome them by flashing the ROM from your MicroSDHC card using this procedure:
1) Run the RUU again and look for the temp folder it created, I something like
C:\Users\[YourLoginNameHere]\AppData\Local\Temp\{82B23FCD-D5D0-45CA-A3A2-5350D3926551}
2) Find rom_02.zip in a subfolder of that folder and rename it PG76IMG.zip
3) Copy PG76IMG.zip onto the root directory of your MicroSDHC card
4) Shutdown the phone, pull and reinsert the battery and reinstall the MicroSDHC card
5) Boot into bootloader (hold volume down and press power)
6) Wait for it to load PG76IMG.zip and press volume up ("yes") to install
7) Shut the phone down and delete PG76IMG.zip from the MicroSDHC card
8) Boot into bootloader again and you should see ***_LOCKED_(OOW)_*** with a bootloader version of H-BOOT-1.08.0099 below. Move onto 3C below
If you're completely stuck on this step you can get more help
here or post a reply to this thread and I'll try to help. But be sure to thank the guys that help you by clicking the thanks button!
3C. Unlock the bootloader
Now you'll follow the steps starting on pg. 2 of the unlock bootloader procedure at htcdev.com. (Find the green button waaaay down at the bottom of the ROM selection page that says "Proceed to Step 1".)
This step requires you to use adb commands (SDK tools) to retrieve your phone's oem identifier token. You will then upload that to the HTC dev bootloader unlock page. After receiving it, they will respond with an email containing an image file ("Unlock_code.bin") which you will then flash to the phone to unlock your bootloader. When done successfully, the Bootloader screen will show ***_UNLOCKED_***. Success!
4. Now on to root the phone!
Note: this will only work if your phone's bootloader is successfully unlocked (you see ***_UNLOCKED_*** on your bootloader screen) or you happen to have an S-ON phone.
Of the methods I have found, this seemed to be the easiest and it's the one that I used. Credit goes out to developer frigid, again at XDA.
4A. First, download the
HTC SuperTool v3 by frigid at xda-developers and don't forget to hit the thanks button on his thread! Be sure to get version 3, not 2! (Direct download
here.)
4B. Once the HTC SuperTool is running (and your phone is connected by USB and in debugging mode), use the following options (see attached jpg below):
1) Press 1 followed by enter (Prep using zergRush).
2) Press 3 followed by enter (Attempt Perm Root). It will tell you if the phone was successfully rooted.
3) Type "reboot" followed by enter to reboot the phone.
If that doesn't work, try his sequence instead:
1) Press 2 followed by enter (Prep using TacoRoot).
2) Press 3 followed by enter (Attempt Perm Root). It will tell you if the phone was successfully rooted.
3) Type "reboot" followed by enter to reboot the phone.
For help with this step, check out
this thread at XDA. Do I need to say it again? Click the help button for the guys who helped you!
5. I'm finally rooted! Now what?
5A. Install ClockworkMod Recovery for WFS
Use eoghan2t7's installer for the unofficial 5.0.2.6 over at XDA to make the install painless. Don't forget to push the thanks button for him!
Or, if you want to be on the cutting edge, download the official 5.0.2.8 image at
http://download.clockworkmod.com/recoveries/recovery-clockwork-5.0.2.8-marvel.img and flash as follows:
>fastboot flash recovery recovery-clockwork-5.0.2.8-marvel.img
Either way, after flashing the recover, head over to Android Market and pick up the
ClockworkMod ROM Manager app.
5B. Backup the stock HTC ROM in cwm5 recovery!! If for whatever reason you don't like the custom ROM you're about to flash or it's buggy and you need to revert, flashing back to a stock HTC ROM can cause massive headaches. Restoring from a backup is MUCH easier.
5C. Install custom ROMs Or not. Some are happy with HTC's stock Sense ROMs. But most of us aren't, and that's why we rooted the phone in the first place, right? My current fav is
CM7, but to each his own.
5D. Install Superuser APP Whether you stay with a rooted stock HTC ROM or go custom, you'll want to install the
Superuser app by ChainsDD at Android Market to grant and manage superuser permissions for your phone. That is unless you like being constantly bothered by permission requests from your apps that require root. If you forget this step, the phone will remind you constantly--I promise!
Now enjoy hacking your Droid!
Rooted mine last night with no issues was just a bit nerve racking, Wasn't sure if phone was rooted successfully. This app came in handy, Root Checker
