Hello all,
I've got an Optus branded incrdible s. I'm looking to flash another Rom to it so I can be rig if all the crap boatware that is installed. From what I have read the virgin Rom is clean and since virgin is owned by Optus it should be fine.
I was wondering if this is possible to do with a gold card. I check my phone and it is vivo pvt ship s-on. Will this be a prblem.
Also will I loose all of my pre installed Australian maps?
I hope you can help. I have been reading for days and keep reading different things. Sine say yes some say no and I want to be sure before I go and brink my phone.
Cheers
Par
Just try it
If you have the optus ruu (dont know it out of my head if its available) you can always restore things like that.
I dont know if the goldcard method is working for an optus, but you can try: if it wont flash, no problem nothing happens, you wont lose any of your data if it wont flash.
However: when it does flash you will lose all your data, you have to put everything in again. So probably you also lose the Australian maps since your flashing a rom which probably doesnt have that in it.
Its quite fail-safe, a brick of your phone is not very likely to happen....
Ive tried to flash the virgin rom but I keep getting an error saying its not compatible with my phone.
I used the easy goldcard creator and the app to get my CID in my phone. Not sure if the goldcard was made correctly. The app says it was successful. Perhaps you cant do it to an Optus branded phone.
If anyone else has an optus incredible S and has de branded it please tell me how.
Cheers
Pat
OK I can confirm that the Optus branded phones can be flashed by using a goldcard. I have flashed the virgin rom and it is now set up for Optus as there was an option to do so.
What I had to do to get it to work was download simple goldcard and got the CID from the MMC2 (HTC inspire) option. All other forms of gold cards would fail.
I can confirm that the bloatware is removed and it is clean of all the Optus **** and boot images.
I will check google maps and make sure the maps are still all there, which I would asume since virgin is owned by optus and this is an Australian Rom.
I hope this helps some other Optus users out there.
Cheers
Pat
Filipiak.
Apparently there was an update sent out to Optus phones with a fix for delayed sms, can you confirm you received this update? If so, what's the software number?
Kind Regards
Filipiak said:
OK I can confirm that the Optus branded phones can be flashed by using a goldcard. I have flashed the virgin rom and it is now set up for Optus as there was an option to do so.
What I had to do to get it to work was download simple goldcard and got the CID from the MMC2 (HTC inspire) option. All other forms of gold cards would fail.
I can confirm that the bloatware is removed and it is clean of all the Optus **** and boot images.
I will check google maps and make sure the maps are still all there, which I would asume since virgin is owned by optus and this is an Australian Rom.
I hope this helps some other Optus users out there.
Cheers
Pat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey, i've also got an Optus Incredible S. its a great phone, but its got optus all over it and the bloatware is killing my battery.
btw, where did you download the goldcard?? im also thinking of flashing a non branded ROM.
I updated to the version with 1.16.0000 HBOOT, and I used a goldcard to downgrade it so I could S-off.
Currently running Virtuous Affinity with no problems at all. In fact, using the latest radio I get faster downloads in more places on the Optus 3G network Im very happy I did it.
---------- Post added at 08:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:21 AM ----------
Oh, and here is the guide to create a goldcard
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1373697
mine is already 1.60 with S-ON, right now im waiting on the Official 2.3.5 update with sense 3.0, but i'll still probably have the optus bloatware everywhere.
what version did you downgrade to to make the goldcard and turn S-OFF?? Optus ROM also??
You mean 1.16?
Im not sure what its name was, but the version I downgraded to was a sense 2.1 stock rom, as in a HTC rom not an optus one. i.e, it had no optus bloat. The HBOOT was 1.13.0000 which I s-offed with revolutionary.
I think youre a bit mixed up, you create a goldcard so you can downgrade, otherwise it will refuse to 'update' to an older version.
So you create a goldcard, then you s-off, then you can root, then you can flash.
I hope I helped
If you want the official 3.0, why don't you flash ARHD??
markj338 said:
You mean 1.16?
Im not sure what its name was, but the version I downgraded to was a sense 2.1 stock rom, as in a HTC rom not an optus one. i.e, it had no optus bloat. The HBOOT was 1.13.0000 which I s-offed with revolutionary.
I think youre a bit mixed up, you create a goldcard so you can downgrade, otherwise it will refuse to 'update' to an older version.
So you create a goldcard, then you s-off, then you can root, then you can flash.
I hope I helped
If you want the official 3.0, why don't you flash ARHD??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, that
lol im definitely mixed up with all this. so a gold card is like an image of your android software you can use to flash your device? so if i want a custom rom ill need to s-off. and to s-off i need to downgrade to a htc 2.1 rom? but wont i need to flash a 2.1 rom in order to downgrade? i thought you couldnt flash with s-on and 1.16? LOL yeah im lost with all this, i understood flashing with Windows Mobile and iPhone a lot better.
I have an (originally) Optus branded Incredible S, HBOOT 1.16.0000, and was able to flash CM7 without using a goldcard by following this guide
If my understanding is correct, you need a goldcard to downgrade to a previous version, a goldcard is not a rom or anything, it is a modification to your sd card.
You could also 'unlock' via HTC dev, but you will remain 1.16 s-on, and you can't do all the things we can on 1.13. I don't think flashing new radios is possible. Correct me if I'm wrong?
This is why I spent my time downgrading instead of using htcdev. Also, using htcdev signs away some of your warranty.
I don't know about flashing radios with S-ON, I just wanted to confirm in this thread that it is possible to flash a custom ROM in this way to remove Optus crapware.
fair enough. the guide to unlock the bootloader doesn't look too difficult. all i want with this phone is to flash a clean rom with htc sense. looks like a hastle though.
Related
Hi guys,
I'm using a Bell Incredible S that I just S-OFFed with the alpharevx tool. Now I'd like to flash my phone with the WWE Gingerbread RUU (RUU_Vivo_Gingerbread_S_HTC_WWE_2.12.405.7_Radio_20 .2804.30.085AU_3805.04.03.22_M_release_187295_sign ed), but there is something i can't quite figure out.
In the bootloader, it says my phone is S-OFF.
So I downloaded the RUU, got the rom.zip file from temp folder, renamed it to PG32IMG.zip and transfered it to the root of my SD card.
Then I booted the phone in bootloader, it loaded the file and finally said "Model ID Incorrect".
Anyone knows why it isn't working? I read a lot of threads and seems like it should work even though my phone is with Bell if it's S-OFF. Is there a step that I've skipped or that I should've done that I have not?
Hope that someone can help me out!
Thanks
Smkiller said:
Hi guys,
I'm using a Bell Incredible S that I just S-OFFed with the alpharevx tool. Now I'd like to flash my phone with the WWE Gingerbread RUU (RUU_Vivo_Gingerbread_S_HTC_WWE_2.12.405.7_Radio_20 .2804.30.085AU_3805.04.03.22_M_release_187295_sign ed), but there is something i can't quite figure out.
In the bootloader, it says my phone is S-OFF.
So I downloaded the RUU, got the rom.zip file from temp folder, renamed it to PG32IMG.zip and transfered it to the root of my SD card.
Then I booted the phone in bootloader, it loaded the file and finally said "Model ID Incorrect".
Anyone knows why it isn't working? I read a lot of threads and seems like it should work even though my phone is with Bell if it's S-OFF. Is there a step that I've skipped or that I should've done that I have not?
Hope that someone can help me out!
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you get the Model ID is incorrect, then that means that you need to flash the RUU using a goldcard because the S-OFF process did not change your CID (carrier id). A goldcard lets you flash ROMs that has a different CID than your device does.
A lot of people here said it was impossible to flash stock roms on the IS from Bell with the goldcard method. Will it be the same for me or is it supposed to work now since I'm S-OFF.
If that doesn't change anything for the goldcard method and I can't flash the stock rom, so why would I want my device S-OFF? I want in any possible way install Gingerbread on my phone.
Thanks for any help!
(I read a lot of topics about this and know how to root or install roms, but I think the problem is my phone is from Bell, and I know some people had problems with Bell ISs, so if someone knows! it kills me not to have Gingerbread on it now!)
Smkiller said:
A lot of people here said it was impossible to flash stock roms on the IS from Bell with the goldcard method. Will it be the same for me or is it supposed to work now since I'm S-OFF.
If that doesn't change anything for the goldcard method and I can't flash the stock rom, so why would I want my device S-OFF? I want in any possible way install Gingerbread on my phone.
Thanks for any help!
(I read a lot of topics about this and know how to root or install roms, but I think the problem is my phone is from Bell, and I know some people had problems with Bell ISs, so if someone knows! it kills me not to have Gingerbread on it now!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that you are S-OFF'd, you can flash any of the GB ROM in the development section.
If you cant flash the device isn't properly s-off sadly I had the same issue with my bell incredible s but I just re did with the xtc clip but ya with that error u may re need to do the process
Sent from my HTC Incredible S using XDA App
Hello,
Please, I did root Incredible S, but I need to go back (unroot). I need back guarantee. Is this possible?
Thank you very much for your answers.
Just do an official update from here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1033922
i only suggest that you do not do not flash HTC_WWE_2.30.405.1
(that one can not yet and maybe never be rooted)
also next time just try using the search button and this question had been answered before, but enjoy
Ouuu, thank you very much I was looking for, but I was confused, so I was completely out.
Hello, How do I install the shipped rom, if I am from the Czech Republic?
or it does not matter what install the rom?
and how do I install it, just run only one. exe?
thank you so much
Well done, but I still have the S-OFF. Does it matter when the claim or not? to complain.
No way to unroot if permanent s-off?
May I ask you about some details? Which RUU did you applied and so on?
I unlocked bootloader with xtc clip, rooted device my and am running the latest ARHD now. Everything works fine except when I try to unroot (flash the stock gingerbread). It seems to be just impossible. It doesn't matter if I try to run ruu on my Vista och use goldcard method I always get either "error [130]: model ID error" or "model id error uppdate fail"
I've used two sd-cards: Kingston 2mb that worked perfect on my old Legend and original Sandisk 8mb that was shipped with my Incredible S. I followed all possible tutorials step by step but without effect. I always get the same error.
I live in Sweden and I bought my device from retailer. I'm not really sure what's the valid RUU version for our region so I've used:
RUU_Vivo_Gingerbread_S_HTC_WWE_2.12.405.7_Radio_20.2804.30.085AU_3805.04.03.22_M_release_187295_signed
RUU_Vivo_Gingerbread_S_HTC_WWE_2.30.405.1_Radio_20.2808.30.085AU_3805.06.03.03_M_release_199308_signed (especially this due to the same program and radio version)
but even optus and RUU_Vivo_Gingerbread_S_KT_KR_2.32.1010.1_Radio_20. 2810.30.085AU_3805.06.03.16_M_release_199684_signe d.
Unfortunately it's always the same error after reboot into bootloader. Has anybody of you (that used xtc clip but not only) faced the same problem? Is there any way to bypass it? I will be very very grateful for any answer.
m.kochan10 said:
May I ask you about some details? Which RUU did you applied and so on?
I unlocked bootloader with xtc clip, rooted device my and am running the latest ARHD now. Everything works fine except when I try to unroot (flash the stock gingerbread). It seems to be just impossible. It doesn't matter if I try to run ruu on my Vista och use goldcard method I always get either "error [130]: model ID error" or "model id error uppdate fail"
I've used two sd-cards: Kingston 2mb that worked perfect on my old Legend and original Sandisk 8mb that was shipped with my Incredible S. I followed all possible tutorials step by step but without effect. I always get the same error.
I live in Sweden and I bought my device from retailer. I'm not really sure what's the valid RUU version for our region so I've used:
RUU_Vivo_Gingerbread_S_HTC_WWE_2.12.405.7_Radio_20.2804.30.085AU_3805.04.03.22_M_release_187295_signed
RUU_Vivo_Gingerbread_S_HTC_WWE_2.30.405.1_Radio_20.2808.30.085AU_3805.06.03.03_M_release_199308_signed (especially this due to the same program and radio version)
but even optus and RUU_Vivo_Gingerbread_S_KT_KR_2.32.1010.1_Radio_20. 2810.30.085AU_3805.06.03.16_M_release_199684_signe d.
Unfortunately it's always the same error after reboot into bootloader. Has anybody of you (that used xtc clip but not only) faced the same problem? Is there any way to bypass it? I will be very very grateful for any answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are S-OFF with a XTC-Clips, you can't get S-ON, because it's a "hardware" S-OFF:
jkolner said:
If you are S-OFF with a XTC-Clips, you can't get S-ON, because it's a "hardware" S-OFF:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for reply but well...It's not what I asked I was asking about unrooting (just pure taking away this little f... pirate and possibility to come back to stock rom) I'm totally aware of permanent character of my unlocked bootloader.
Anyway I solved problem with help of two threads: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1070348&page=7 and this about canadian dudes' problem with their PG32120 devices and bell stock. As it turned out I accidently change my Modelid during s-offing and wrote it as PG321200, which i didn't know until i succesfully installed ENG s-off and rebooted bootloader todays afternoon. I used xtc clip again (I had to re-create goldcard - hboot 0.99x200 (bell) though) and reverted quite easily back to my original PG3213000. After that I installed RUU without any single issue. Just ENG s-off disappeared, but I can live without that
Can you not downgrade the HBOOT then run said RUU with a gold card. Or you could extract the ROM.zip and use that in HBOOT mode.
Believe me I tried several times and it didn't work as long as I had modelid PG321200. Once I changed model id with xtc clip problem disappeared
Hello
Can someone please help me out with a stock rom as i want to unroot because my phone has decided to refuse a usb connection and simply just charge. I have tried various different cables but still no luck, so need to go back to stock so I dont void warranty.
crazee87 said:
Hello
Can someone please help me out with a stock rom as i want to unroot because my phone has decided to refuse a usb connection and simply just charge. I have tried various different cables but still no luck, so need to go back to stock so I dont void warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is your phone branded or unbranded??
Do you know which Rom came with it??
I can send you detailed instructions to unroot and S-On your device but first you need to tell which region your phone belongs and if its branded with some carrier or unbranded???
Ehsan
Can somebody tell me how to go back to S-on. I've got dust under mine frontcamera so i have to bring it back to the store. I already flashed a RUU, only the S-off is still there. I checked the forums but i can't figure it out. I had Revol. Used to gain S-off. Can someone explain me how to do it please?
Sent from my HTC Incredible S using XDA App
Zoeriva said:
Can somebody tell me how to go back to S-on. I've got dust under mine frontcamera so i have to bring it back to the store. I already flashed a RUU, only the S-off is still there. I checked the forums but i can't figure it out. I had Revol. Used to gain S-off. Can someone explain me how to do it please?
Sent from my HTC Incredible S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Follow this guide that I just posted:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1287111
Regards.
Ehsan
Ehsan,
Thanks for your help, i will try this today!
Sent from my HTC Incredible S using XDA App
Hello Ehsan,
I'l tried your methode but the phone is still S-off?
Do you have another way to try?
Thanks anaway for your help!
Sent from my HTC Incredible S using XDA App
Zoeriva said:
Hello Ehsan,
I'l tried your methode but the phone is still S-off?
Do you have another way to try?
Thanks anaway for your help!
Sent from my HTC Incredible S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It worked fine for me and so did for a few others but I heard recently that there are some changes in AlphaRevX and the bootloader needs to be downgraded now.
I S-off my phone long ago when AlphaRevX method was just introduced so may be that's why my bootloader was overwritten by the Rom easily.
Try following this guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15732727&postcount=14
By the way my guide is meant to be used when your USB is not working
Ehsan
PS. I dont own an Incredible S anymore so cant test it myself sorry
Hi, I've searched and read most threads about installing a different ROM, but I don't know which one could work for me
My phone is branded to "3" and I just want to unbrand it and get rid of the simlock so I can use another simcards as well
I have tried the AlphaRevX S-OFF guide but I only get "failed to get root" so no luck there, my phone is still S-ON
I have made a goldcard but which ROM can I use? What is the difference between them? I live in Sweden, can I use a European version or does the new ROM have to match the old in some way?
This is my first android phone and it's a lot to take in when trying to understand ROMs, rooting, S-OFF etc.
Pick the one that suits you from the Shipped ROM thread - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1033922
It should help to debrand, don't know about SIM unlock though
Hello.
Right now I have a phone with Euro 2.3.3 firmware, which was installed before I bought the phone most likely using Gold Card.
I want to install 4.0 Stock Euro firmware.
Yesterday I got myself S-OFF, Revolutionary, CWM Recovery, Root.
What are my options now?
I was considering doing XTC Clip S-OFF, and then just flashing latest 4.0 for Europe.
or installing BlackRose HBoot, updating firmware to Euro 2.3.5 using zip/RUU (dunno which one), and then maybe updating to 4.0 (via FOTA??).
So what exactly should I do best?
Please don't suggest custom ROMs. Thank you
SergSlim said:
Hello.
Right now I have a phone with Euro 2.3.3 firmware, which was installed before I bought the phone most likely using Gold Card.
I want to install 4.0 Stock Euro firmware.
Yesterday I got myself S-OFF, Revolutionary, CWM Recovery, Root.
What are my options now?
I was considering doing XTC Clip S-OFF, and then just flashing latest 4.0 for Europe.
or installing BlackRose HBoot, updating firmware to Euro 2.3.5 using zip/RUU (dunno which one), and then maybe updating to 4.0 (via FOTA??).
So what exactly should I do best?
Please don't suggest custom ROMs. Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why do a xtc clip s off when you already have s off ?
and you need to change your CID to the one that is recieving ota updates. its a bit of mucking around so you wanna make sure you know what your doing. id just wait until the official ruu comes out it will be alot easier to install. i think @tpbklake has gotten it to work
XTC clip gives you radio s-off, sim unlock and superCID. The problem is it's not free
Sent from my Incredible S using xda premium
I have now got the euro OTA installed on my Australian Virgin phone with CID OPTUS002 so it is definitely possible to do it. If you look in the "any news regarding OTA ICS update" thread around page 36 onward you will see a couple of posts by myself and @tpbklake about how we managed it.
Maybe I should just make a backup with Titanium, make a Gold Card, revert back to S-ON and flash the RUU using goldcard?
Then somehow I need to restore stuff from titanium on 4.0
That's pretty much what I did. I installed this ROM and then forced the OTA onto it. I then rooted and rebooted, all apps loaded from the market and then I used titanium to restore the missing bits.
mr nick said:
That's pretty much what I did. I installed this ROM and then forced the OTA onto it. I then rooted and rebooted, all apps loaded from the market and then I used titanium to restore the missing bits.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would be nice to get a step-by-step guide for noobs on how to do it.
SergSlim said:
Maybe I should just make a backup with Titanium, make a Gold Card, revert back to S-ON and flash the RUU using goldcard?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No real need to follow the method I used of forcing the OTA on to an older RUU. Just get the latest full ICS RUU that's now available and use the steps you've posted. Much easier than the way I did it.
mr nick said:
No real need to follow the method I used of forcing the OTA on to an older RUU. Just get the latest full ICS RUU that's now available and use the steps you've posted. Much easier than the way I did it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you share the link where the full ICS RUU is posted?
Found it. Here it is: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=0973
Sent from my HTC Incredible S using xda app-developers app
I updated my phone using Gold Card, by reverting back to S-ON.
Now I need to get root and Restore stuff from Titanium.
Thanks everyone for help.
OK, so about 9 months ago I rooted my Three branded HTC one, installed CWM recovery and put ARHD12 on there and it's been brilliant. Three are now rolling out the 4G radio updates which as far as I understand is entirely separate to any ROM such as ARHD. So how do I get the radio update? Do I have to go back to stock? If so, now's the time to confess I didn't take a backup before I installed ARHD. So I guess I need the most recent Three RUU - do I have to remove CWM before I install it? I'm not a n00b - I managed to do this on my own last time and I'm fairly technically competent. The only problem I have now is one of time - I can't spend an entire day figuring stuff out due to the 9-month old bundle of joy that requires a fair bit of attention! If you can help me with a fairly simple outline of what to do in what order, that would be very much appreciated. Cheers!
ShadowTD said:
OK, so about 9 months ago I rooted my Three branded HTC one, installed CWM recovery and put ARHD12 on there and it's been brilliant. Three are now rolling out the 4G radio updates which as far as I understand is entirely separate to any ROM such as ARHD. So how do I get the radio update? Do I have to go back to stock? If so, now's the time to confess I didn't take a backup before I installed ARHD. So I guess I need the most recent Three RUU - do I have to remove CWM before I install it? I'm not a n00b - I managed to do this on my own last time and I'm fairly technically competent. The only problem I have now is one of time - I can't spend an entire day figuring stuff out due to the 9-month old bundle of joy that requires a fair bit of attention! If you can help me with a fairly simple outline of what to do in what order, that would be very much appreciated. Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will have to return completely to stock. That means everything must be as it was out of the box. As for the ruu for your carrier, if they released it then it should be in one of the stickies.
Bat cave One
I'm on Three in the UK and before I flashed a custom ROM I made sure I got S-Off then flashed the latest unbranded firmware(FUU_4.19.401.9-TWRP2633_combined_nowipe.exe which I got from XDA) and then changed my CID to SuperCID. After that I flashed custom ROM without flashing a stock ROM. LTE/4G works perfectly ok.
heat57 said:
I'm on Three in the UK and before I flashed a custom ROM I made sure I got S-Off then flashed the latest unbranded firmware(FUU_4.19.401.9-TWRP2633_combined_nowipe.exe which I got from XDA) and then changed my CID to SuperCID. After that I flashed custom ROM without flashing a stock ROM. LTE/4G works perfectly ok.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Heat57. I'm currently S-On, Unlocked, Tampered. I've also found this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2419699
which seems to contain all of the radio files in the world, and also all of the firmware. This radio:
(1.29.401.12 WWE OTA) Radio_4A.14.3250.13_10.33.1150.01L
Looks interested, but you say you never flashed your radio? When did you get your one?
I'm thinking from your post I'm going to get S-OFF (using Revone, yes?) and flash a firmware to see if the 4G radio options show up. I can't see the one you mentioned - could you recommend one from the above thread? Also, it says TWRP - I'm using CWM - is that a problem?
Final question - if I do a backup I'm backing up the radio and firmware as well? So if I make a total plums of this I can get back to CWM and restore?
TIA for any further help you can give me
ShadowTD said:
Thanks Heat57. I'm currently S-On, Unlocked, Tampered. I've also found this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2419699
which seems to contain all of the radio files in the world, and also all of the firmware. This radio:
(1.29.401.12 WWE OTA) Radio_4A.14.3250.13_10.33.1150.01L
Looks interested, but you say you never flashed your radio? When did you get your one?
I'm thinking from your post I'm going to get S-OFF (using Revone, yes?) and flash a firmware to see if the 4G radio options show up. I can't see the one you mentioned - could you recommend one from the above thread? Also, it says TWRP - I'm using CWM - is that a problem?
Final question - if I do a backup I'm backing up the radio and firmware as well? So if I make a total plums of this I can get back to CWM and restore?
TIA for any further help you can give me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I flashed the firmware, which amongst other hardware bits includes the radio. My first goal was to unlock the bootloader and then S-Off, as the latter removes any potential issues with firmware flashes and the like. I also went and changed CID to 11111111, which I understand is SuperCID and enables flashing of firmware and ROMs of different CID designations. Please beware, YOU MUST BE S-OFF FOR FIRMWARE FLASHING!!!
Regarding your question of revone, if you're on hboot 1.44 then yes, revone, hboot version 1.54 and 1.55 only work with rumrunner and latest versions require the 'firewater' exploit.
I am relatively new to HTC, although I owned an original Desire many years ago, so I still remember the peculiarities of HTC ROM. I had a Galaxy Note 2 and rooting and flashing ROMs there is a piece of cake by comparison. I digress.
Unlike most other manufacturers, where you get everything included in the custom ROM, it seems with HTC that is not the case, hence if you want to update your radio for example, you need to flash a firmware package. Therefore, I am not certain if a Nandroid would restore the firmware, if you encounter any problems, maybe someone more knowledgeable can confirm. In any event, if you're S-Off then flashing any firmware for the M7ul should work, so worst case, if you mess up you could always flash the one I pointed out via adb. Here is a link to the latest firmware http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2485651
Regarding the recovery, I just prefer TWRP and use the one but last version 2.6.3.4, which works perfectly. #However, there is no reason why your CWM should not be adequate. Before I took the jump, after just receiving my One, I read through the threads for about a day to make sure I got it right.
Finally, if you end up rooted and S-Off then there is a supper little flashable zip called 'Guru_Bootloade_Reset_1.0.zip' that allows you to remove the tampered flag, relock the bootloader and unlock it again by simply flashing it and selecting what you want in it's aroma installer. You'll find it on XDA as well, justuse the search function.