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Hi guys, i'm new to doing this for Google Android as i've never owned an Android phone before. A friend of mine wanted me to do it for him because i've done iphone jailbreaking, PSP / DS hacking, installing custom roms on many mobile platforms. The only one i haven't done is Android but he feels that it's safer that i do it for him.
I owned a HTC Touch Pro and know how the process works, but it seems for Android devices, you have to "root" it first by bypass some sort of CID or SPL check??
Anyway my question is, can someone give me a rough and quick explanations on how this work for Android phones, or more specifically the HTC Desire?? My friend simply wants custom roms installed on his phone, just like how it is for the windows mobile devices like the Touch Pro or Touch Pro 2 etc.
So do i simply root it first, and then install the custom rom and that's it?? Are there any extra steps i must take as well such as updating the kernel or something??
I know for rooting, you have to create a gold card. I have found guides for those, but if anyone can give me guides on how to install custom roms or any other helpful infos that i need to them, please do. It seems it's not as easy and straightforward as it is for Windows Mobile phones........
and apparently, rooting the phone means that some apps won't be usable?? It seems there are some downsides to this as well. If anyone can give me as much info related to rooting or installing custom roms for Android devices, that would be awesome.
chaoscreater said:
Hi guys, i'm new to doing this for Google Android as i've never owned an Android phone before. A friend of mine wanted me to do it for him because i've done iphone jailbreaking, PSP / DS hacking, installing custom roms on many mobile platforms. The only one i haven't done is Android but he feels that it's safer that i do it for him.
I owned a HTC Touch Pro and know how the process works, but it seems for Android devices, you have to "root" it first by bypass some sort of CID or SPL check??
Anyway my question is, can someone give me a rough and quick explanations on how this work for Android phones, or more specifically the HTC Desire?? My friend simply wants custom roms installed on his phone, just like how it is for the windows mobile devices like the Touch Pro or Touch Pro 2 etc.
So do i simply root it first, and then install the custom rom and that's it?? Are there any extra steps i must take as well such as updating the kernel or something??
I know for rooting, you have to create a gold card. I have found guides for those, but if anyone can give me guides on how to install custom roms or any other helpful infos that i need to them, please do. It seems it's not as easy and straightforward as it is for Windows Mobile phones........
and apparently, rooting the phone means that some apps won't be usable?? It seems there are some downsides to this as well. If anyone can give me as much info related to rooting or installing custom roms for Android devices, that would be awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
basically what it is, when google made android, they locked us out of accessing system files, kinda like the windows directory on winmo fones if you get me, by rooting your fone you regain access to them system files in order to flash a rom there are 3 steps,
1) rooting (Lets us mod the system)
2) install custom recovery (Recovery is where you can flash roms and other update files)
3) get the rom you want, (copy the .zip to the root of your sd card, then just flash it via recovery)
thats it all done
thanks for your reply mate.
But i've read from a few topics that rooting is only required for branded devices, and i don't think my friend's HTC Desire is branded at all, will i still need to root his phone though?
Also, how do i install the custom recovery?? This is the first time i've learned about this, all the other guides i found were similar to how you install custom roms for Windows Mobile, just using the RUU_Flasher (something like that), it's like an automated installer that flashes your phone so you don't have to do anything else at all so it's very simple. Could you link me to the custom recovery thing you talked about??
So basically, the recovery thing is kinda like an app that you launch from Android itself, and then it'll install the rom found on the root of your memory card??
Oh and lastly, i've read something about the SPL and kernel as well, do those matter??
One question about rooting...
Is this something you do one time and it keeps forever? For example, I'm actually in android 2.1, but android 2.2 is going to be released soon. If I root my device now but I update it later to android 2.2 will be still rooted or should I root it again?
I'm asking this question because the root process needs an specific boot/ROM and updating the phone might update one or both of them, making the rooting process unavailable for the time being.
chaoscreater said:
But i've read from a few topics that rooting is only required for branded devices, and i don't think my friend's HTC Desire is branded at all, will i still need to root his phone though?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is incorrect.
If the phone is unbranded, you don't need a goldcard, but you still need to "root" it to install custom ROMs.
In reality, what we call "rooting" here is a two stage process.
The first stage is to get a custom recovery on your device, which allows you to flash custom ROMs.
The second stage is to flash a ROM which allows you to gain root access to the device when in operation.
There are plenty of threads and guides on these forums that can take you through the process. IMHO, UnRevoked3 is the best solution.
Regards,
Dave
AzureusPT said:
Is this something you do one time and it keeps forever? For example, I'm actually in android 2.1, but android 2.2 is going to be released soon. If I root my device now but I update it later to android 2.2 will be still rooted or should I root it again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you install a ROM via an HTC RUU, or an OTA update, you will almost certainly lose root. So, once rooted, always flash ROMs that are pre-rooted via a custom recovery image. If you allow an HTC update to replace your bootloader, you may end up with a device that is no longer rootable by current methods.
Regards,
Dave
foxmeister said:
This is incorrect.
If the phone is unbranded, you don't need a goldcard, but you still need to "root" it to install custom ROMs.
In reality, what we call "rooting" here is a two stage process.
The first stage is to get a custom recovery on your device, which allows you to flash custom ROMs.
The second stage is to flash a ROM which allows you to gain root access to the device when in operation.
There are plenty of threads and guides on these forums that can take you through the process. IMHO, UnRevoked3 is the best solution.
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok so i basically use the UnRevoked3 app to install all that stuff on the Desire, and then put the custom rom image file on the root of my memory card, and where do i go from there?? I know i obviously have to install it but how? Will there be any apps installed on the phone by the UnRevoked3 program, and that i use the app to install the custom rom?
And btw i haven't gotten the phone yet so couldn't try this out so just wanna know exactly how this works.
Thanks for your reply btw, i appreciate it.
If you've got a custom recovery on your phone (via UnRevoked3 say), in order to install a custom ROM you need to:
a) Power down your phone
b) Power up your phone whilst holding volume down
c) Using the volume up/down keys navigate to "Recovery" and the power button to select. This will take you into your recovery image.
d) From here, you can then make Nandroid backups, flash new ROMs, wipe the device etc, etc
Regards,
Dave
foxmeister said:
If you've got a custom recovery on your phone (via UnRevoked3 say), in order to install a custom ROM you need to:
a) Power down your phone
b) Power up your phone whilst holding volume down
c) Using the volume up/down keys navigate to "Recovery" and the power button to select. This will take you into your recovery image.
d) From here, you can then make Nandroid backups, flash new ROMs, wipe the device etc, etc
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AHH ic ic, this is similar to hacking a PSP and install a custom firmware
ok i think i got the gist of it overall. Just one last question, what is Nandroid?? I read the FAQ on the homepage for UnRevoked3 and it mentioned something like this, or was it Nand?? I forgot, but it's one of those things that couldn't be flashed or changed permanently. I know nand is quite a common term for PSP and iPhones, so just wondering what this is for or what it means on Android...
here's an old video which shows how fake flash recovery works:
once you root your phone, you can use this procedure to flash roms:
vol down + power to enter hboot
choose Recovery option using vol buttons and power to confirm
once red triangle shows up, vol up + power, then choose apply update.zip to enter fake flash recovery
from there, you can backup your rom, wipe everything, flash new roms/radios, partition sd card...
thanks for your help, yup i got it.
But i just want to know what is Nandroid?? I read the FAQ on the homepage for UnRevoked3 and it mentioned something like this, or was it Nand?? I forgot, but it's one of those things that couldn't be flashed or changed permanently. I know nand is quite a common term for PSP and iPhones, so just wondering what this is for or what it means on Android...
btw i just watched the video and what's the difference between:
apply sdcard:update.zip
and
install zip from sd card
it's around the 0:39 on the video.
apply update.zip is to enter recovery
install zip from sd card is used to choose rom or radio from sd card to flash
nandroid backup is system image that you create prior to flashing. In case something goes wrong, you can restore your backup, and have everything as it was, without any consequences (that's how it should be in theory, to tell the truth I haven't used it yet )
djoni1980 said:
apply update.zip is to enter recovery
install zip from sd card is used to choose rom or radio from sd card to flash
nandroid backup is system image that you create prior to flashing. In case something goes wrong, you can restore your backup, and have everything as it was, without any consequences (that's how it should be in theory, to tell the truth I haven't used it yet )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok but for the "apply update.zip", how is it that it enters recovery?? I thought you ARE in the recovery, and thus you get those options as shown in that video??
EDIT: Regarding ROOTING: there are now rooted 2.2 official ROMs available with all kinds of goodies. If you have a rooted phone, or wanted to root anyway, you have the option of using those ROMs. This thread is then not for you.
BY FOLLOWING THE BELOW STEPS YOU WILL LOSE ROOT. If you want to root in the future, use a custom rom from the development section.
You do NOT need to have a rooted phone to do the below modifications. Everything is done using only official HTC Roms. You will have the official 2.2 Update as a result of the below steps.
Now back to your regular programme
-------------------
Ok for those who have itchy hands and must have the europe Froyo update on their non-Europe handsets:
The trick: treat your phone as if it were branded, even if you thought it wasn't. This applies especially to those with chinese input. This means you will need to do two things: create a gold card and de-brand your phone to European WWE 1.21 firmware.
Estimated time: give it an evening. There are a lot of things to do, so it may take a while, even if you're awesome and you've rooted and done other things to your phone you shouldn't do
Creating a gold card has been covered in detail see:
http://theunlockr.com/2010/03/10/how-to-create-a-goldcard/
But a few TIPS to note:
1. backup whatever you have on your memory card, just in case before starting the gold card creation process. you may have to format it.
2. look for the gold card creation tool, it will save you a lot of time
3. you will need to store your upgrade image on your gold card. when you are done creating your gold card, double check that when you unplug it from your computer and plug it back in, you are still able to put files in it. ie you do NOT get the message from Windows suggesting you should format it. If you get this message, do the gold card process again.
Now that you have a Gold Card...
Step 1: Unlocking
Get the WWE image:
http://shipped-roms.com/shipped/Bra...00.28U_4.06.00.02_2_release_126984_signed.exe
This is a windows installer and is run from your computer. This WILL wipe all data from your phone and perform a factory reset.
I recommend using something like myBackup to backup your important information (bookmarks, smses etc). You can even back up Apps with myBackup, but since you are wiping data you might as well reinstall as you are not likely to get your Apps preferences back. Reinstalling also puts more of your apps into your SD memory, froyo style.
So, do a backup to your regular SD card, shut down. Pop in your Gold Card, boot up your phone, go into HTC sync mode (this enables USB debugging), and then run the above exe.
Follow instructions in the installer.
Step 2:
Now you have an unbranded phone. Keep your gold card in there, don't bother setting up your phone as you can do all this after we get froyo. And if something fails, you will be kicking yourself for having to do it again
Grab the update image from:
http://liveimage.htc.com/OTA_Bravo_Froyo_HTC_WWE_2.09.405.8-1.21.405.2_release4dua3bcrut4wrv30.zip
Hopefully it stays up there for some time, but if it gets taken down I'm sure you will be able to find someone who has a copy
When done downloading, rename this file "update.zip" and copy this file onto your Gold Card.
This is why it was important in step 1 to make sure your Gold Card can still accept writing files to it.
Step 3: The update
Shut down your phone. Boot recovery mode.
cool_scorpion said:
Hi Annafil - first - many many thanks for sharing this - I had purchased a Desire from the grey market in the UAE, and it was from Singapore, and I couldnt get rid of the Chinese keyboard options that kept coming up every time I typed. I couldnt also use the official wwe roms - and then ur post came along. Now thanks to you, I have the wwe rom, with Froyo chugging along perfectly fine on my Desire Thanks a ton.
Just a quick comment - refer the instructions quoted above - the video is not really reflecting the right tasks to be done at the 3rd step - I looked around and found these comments, and thought will put them down - you might want to use this in your comments as an alternative to the video
When you want to launch the recovery image
1. Turn on your device with 'volume down' pressed and select 'Recovery'
2. When the exclamation mark appears, press and hold 'volume up' then press 'power'
3. Select the second option, 'Apply sdcard:update.zip'
For more information, see video for instructions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi0PTV992WA
In recovery mode, use the option to load "Update.zip" from memory card.
This will kick start the update.
If you have done everything right, it will do some copying (an error about failing to load something related to cache is normal, ignore it). Your phone will reboot, show you an upgade in progress icon, reboot again into your regular phone mode and tell you you have successfully upgraded. It will then do a quick load from 0 to 100%, and then present you with keyboard settings.
You now have froyo. Shut down, swap out your gold card for your regular card with your myBackup backup, boot up.
Get online, grab myBackup from the market place. If you did this all within 30 days you've still got your free trial, so click restore inside myBackup and have fun
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many many thanks for the write up. Will follow the step and get back here soon.
Yes thanks to your write up, I have now in my hand a froyo-ed HTC Desire Woo Hoo!
Hi to all SG desire users,
Able to install back chinese input after you upgrade to froyo using european rom?
Out of interest... are we able to do the initial rooting of the Asian rom via the 'Unrevoked' method??
Its a hell of a lot less complicated than making a gold card... but I havent heard much feedback on whether it will work with the faux-branded Asian roms.
My current stock rom:
Firmware version 2.1-update1
Baseband version 32.36.00.28U_4.06.00.02_2
Kernel version 2.6.29-c8d11160
[email protected]#1
Build number 1.20.751.5 CL171460 release-keys
Software number 1.20.751.5
HBOOT 0.80.000
Cheerz in advance.
Is root required for this?
Chinese input is available for me on world generic. Can't tell you if it's very good since don't use it but it's there.
No, you do not need to root.
Rooting is not the same as making a gold card and won't help you to install the ota successfully.
The rest: my pleasure happy to have saved someone the headache I had trying to do this.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
I'd be curious if anyone has an easier way to accomplish the same thing without losing settings, for instance.
Does rooting require to do this processes?
I bought my handset from an importer, how do I work out where its from and what version its running?
Can I completely ruin the phone if this goes wrong?
rabbitt1995 said:
I bought my handset from an importer, how do I work out where its from and what version its running?
Can I completely ruin the phone if this goes wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the software number is something like x.xx.405.x then you're running an unbranded phone.
combo1234 said:
Does rooting require to do this processes?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your question has already been answered two posts before yours.
Is this reversible back to the Asian rom?
ie send in for warranty purposes.
i can't wait too, feel like trying it out
hye. i'm from asia. ok.. i have several question.
1. Do i have to always keep the goldcard the sdcard after update or i can simply delete the file?
2. Am i be able to auto update (if any) in the future or i have to go through the same procedure again?
3. After Step 1, can i just check for update on the phone instead installing the update from boot recovery mode?
I am getting following error when run RUU_Bravo_HTC_WWE_1.21.405.2_Radio_32.36.00.28U_4.06.00.02_2_release_126984_signed.exe
“The ROM Update Utility cannot update your Android phone
please get the correct ROM update utiliy and try again”
Please any buudy help me
HTC desire ROM version Vodafone_UK_1.19.161.5_Radio_32.36.00.28U_4.06.00.02
unlocked
abhishek_22 said:
I am getting following error when run RUU_Bravo_HTC_WWE_1.21.405.2_Radio_32.36.00.28U_4.06.00.02_2_release_126984_signed.exe
“The ROM Update Utility cannot update your Android phone
please get the correct ROM update utiliy and try again”
Please any buudy help me
HTC desire ROM version Vodafone_UK_1.19.161.5_Radio_32.36.00.28U_4.06.00.02
unlocked
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use a gold card. See the beginning of the OP.
1. Do i have to always keep the goldcard the sdcard after update or i can simply delete the file?
2. Am i be able to auto update (if any) in the future or i have to go through the same procedure again?
3. After Step 1, can i just check for update on the phone instead installing the update from boot recovery mode?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. No, you don't need the gold card once you are done.
2. If you use the European firmware on an Asian phone, you will likely need the gold card for future updates.
3. Yes, you can, but you have to have the gold card in your phone when you are running the update. So your gold card still has to be your SD card.
the update has a tendency to ask for more space, and then ask you to download again. i figured it would be easier to tell people to run the update.zip because that way less stuff can go wrong. But yeah, it's the same thing.
The update.zip does not wipe your phone. If you have settings on the European 2.1, or if you already used a gold card to go to WWE rom before, you won't lose settings.
annafil said:
Use a gold card. See the beginning of the OP.
1. No, you don't need the gold card once you are done.
2. If you use the European firmware on an Asian phone, you will likely need the gold card for future updates.
3. Yes, you can, but you have to have the gold card in your phone when you are running the update. So your gold card still has to be your SD card.
the update has a tendency to ask for more space, and then ask you to download again. i figured it would be easier to tell people to run the update.zip because that way less stuff can go wrong. But yeah, it's the same thing.
The update.zip does not wipe your phone. If you have settings on the European 2.1, or if you already used a gold card to go to WWE rom before, you won't lose settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the answer... i think i'll wait for the update.. i'm not brave enough to update manually since my device is still under warranty.. also i heard that some user experiencing some problem during updating...
kero89 said:
Is this reversible back to the Asian rom?
ie send in for warranty purposes.
i can't wait too, feel like trying it out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it is because the asian version is 2.19 wheras the world wide english is 2.21.
I had a problem in that the update would not apply - but I had taken out my gold card between applying the 2.1 WWE rom and applying the Froyo update. BTW, if it keeps rebooting, and has a problem with "system" force closing - then you have this problem.
Anyway, in desperation, I thought I would go back to the asian rom - but the euro rom is more recent, and it refused to downgrade (Error 140). Oh well. I do have a successful Euro rom, I just haven't Froyoed it yet - something for tonight.
I have successfully completed 1&2 steps but I am getting error in step3, see the attached screen grab.
I am using a Gold Card to try and get over the signature verification issues.
Does anyone have a suggestion as to what else to try please?
just followed all the steps and my phone is rocking Froyo! yipee. pretty smooth process. took me <2 hrs.
Singapore user here.
My desire was purchased on T-Mobile (has T-Mobile startup screen), I also bought an unlock code from them. I'm now using my o2 contract sim in the phone. I'm interested in updating the software to FROYO but have no idea how to go about it.
I don't want to do anything complicated and am happy to wait for an official release. I've read the network sends an update direct to your phone. In my case would this come from T-Mobile or o2?
When I check for system updates it says none are available. My software number is 1.15.110.11
I've looked around the forum for ages but I still can't get a definite answer to my question.
You can be waiting for a very long time for froyo from a network provider.
It's easy to debrand and upgrade your phone. Create a goldcard & download an official ROM. Then you can simply upgrade OTA. There's loads of guides on this forum.
Hi there!
Understand your situation, since I had almost exactly the same circumstances (mine is running on orange)! I couldnt get a definite answer either, so bit the bullet anyway and did it, here is how:
1-rooted the phone by UnrEVOked method (really couldnt be bothered by the goldcard etc method; this method was easy, just had some driver install problems since the guide isnt too good on this point, but its easy to figure it out)
2-Installed the new radio
3-installed the generic rooted 2.2 ROM http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=741775, just by doing an easy straighforward update from the sdcard by going to the bootloader.
Phone was still UNLOCKED,and all running ok. Just had an issue where the phone would say "sim card changed, do you want ot load settings etc". Say NO, otherwise you lose your wallpapers, scenes, etc settings, and you have to redo the whole shebang.
Hope your experience is same as mine, im a noob too, so dont take anything for granted (your phone may have different firmware from mine etc), and make doubly sure before you go ahead!
Good luck.
k.aalai said:
Hi there!
Understand your situation, since I had almost exactly the same circumstances (mine is running on orange)! I couldnt get a definite answer either, so bit the bullet anyway and did it, here is how:
1-rooted the phone by UnrEVOked method (really couldnt be bothered by the goldcard etc method; this method was easy, just had some driver install problems since the guide isnt too good on this point, but its easy to figure it out)
2-Installed the new radio
3-installed the generic rooted 2.2 ROM ... just by doing an easy straighforward update from the sdcard by going to the bootloader.
Phone was still UNLOCKED,and all running ok. Just had an issue where the phone would say "sim card changed, do you want ot load settings etc". Say NO, otherwise you lose your wallpapers, scenes, etc settings, and you have to redo the whole shebang.
Hope your experience is same as mine, im a noob too, so dont take anything for granted (your phone may have different firmware from mine etc), and make doubly sure before you go ahead!
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi mate.
I'm in exact the same situation (German T-mobile 2.1 Softnumber: 1.15.110.11). Your guide looks awesome!!! Can you please please please write it in a bit detail?? from a factory branded 2.1 to root, then to froyo?? please??
I read the UnrEVOked guide from rootmydroid.co.uk
but looks like I only need to the first half for your step 1?
does it root the phone ? does it wipe all my settings and apps???
I also don't know what to do with the radio in your step 2??
can you please help??!! THX soooooooooo much !!!!
Hi thanks for the replies, very useful info.
Does rooting the phone invalidate the warranty?? That's what's putting me off doing it and why I'm happy to wait for an official update.
Hey forgot10!
The step 2 of unrevoked guide is installing the ROM of your choice. Just pick the new ROM you want (from many here and other forums, I just picked a rooted generic 2.2), and install as per part 2 of the unrevoked guide.
2.2 requires a new radio, which is linked and shown in http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=741775. Installing the radio doesnt wipe the data, but you seem to need to WIPE (from the recovery image) before putting the new ROM. So use TItanium Backup, or MYbackup, to save your apps, and user data on the SD card, then when the new ROM is installed, you reinstall one of those apps (from market) then rewrtie your apps/data!
As per warranty, check the other threads to be sure, but i think, yes it does invalidate your warranty, but im not 100% certain!
Regards
k.aalai said:
Hey forgot10!
The step 2 of unrevoked guide is installing the ROM of your choice. Just pick the new ROM you want (from many here and other forums, I just picked a rooted generic 2.2), and install as per part 2 of the unrevoked guide.
2.2 requires a new radio, which is linked and shown in {newbie cannot posted link }. Installing the radio doesnt wipe the data, but you seem to need to WIPE (from the recovery image) before putting the new ROM. So use TItanium Backup, or MYbackup, to save your apps, and user data on the SD card, then when the new ROM is installed, you reinstall one of those apps (from market) then rewrtie your apps/data!
As per warranty, check the other threads to be sure, but i think, yes it does invalidate your warranty, but im not 100% certain!
Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks mate! it make much better sense for me now!! Im gonna try it next weekend!!
It seems I made the mistake of applying the last OA update. Which means no root. On the other hand, I need root edit gps.conf file, for a better gps fix.
After spending some time reading I found a way to downgrade - not sure if I will apply it, it seems a new update is coming.
Anyway, my question is - what is the difference between reset to factory default. Does it return my phone to the state I had it when I bought it, or just whipes all personal info without downgrading. I don't want to loose any data doing a reset, and now quite sure what the downsides of downgrading using the method described in ROM dev section. I am a but of a noob on Android topic, too... that is why I had to ask
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
very interested to know this myself - ive got a desire on telstra running:
2.26.841.2 and hboot 0.93.0001
iv tried just about every method out there to root it but no success (though i have come close)
i also have a gold card
if i go back to factory will i be able to root, and what is the best way to root his phone?
failing that - does anyone know anyone who can?
many thanks in advance
Factory reset wipes all the user data, it will not downgrade the ROM. So i'm afraid to get root you are going to have to downgrade as per instructions here
ghostofcain said:
Factory reset wipes all the user data, it will not downgrade the ROM. So i'm afraid to get root you are going to have to downgrade as per instructions here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so does that guide work for the normal desire or just the desire hd?
sorted
ok sorted it all out and rooted my phone finally
having the phone completely up to date beforehand was probably the biggest hinderance
so in summary for anyone else in my (former) situation i can offer the following advice:
1. download downgrader from http://www.multiupload.com/CFAR720K5P and extract to readily accesible folder
2. copy PB99IMG.zip to sdcard (mine's 8gb kingston, had about 3gb of other stuff on there)
3. make a gold card as per http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=573866 up to the recovery step. i used the same card as above
4. run the win-down.bat file and follow all instructions (phone should now be running hboot 0.83)
5. remove the files you put in the sd cards root
6. download and run unrevoked3 (whatever version is 28,069KB)
7, you should be all sorted
you may find youself turning the phone on and off and and switching cards heaps, i found it useful to shuffle files around by selecting 'mount phone as disk drive' to move the files i needed, and then revert to charge only afterwards.
to arrive at this solution took me fn ages so i hope im helping another noob out there somewhere. experts are invited to shoot holes in my method.
many thanks to muskie for his passive assistance
Hi,
I'd be really grateful to anyone who can answer my newbie questions.
I'm looking to follow the guide to downgrade my non-network-branded (i.e. sim-free) Desire HD, so I can permanently root it. Then I intend to follow the other guide so I can still update to the latest official release. My primary requirement for rooting is just so I can make complete backups of my phone's state in future. Though I'll probably play about with other community ROMs too!
Sorry if answers to my questions are elsewhere, and feel free just to point if that's the case. I've searched but haven't found definitive answers. Knowing these things will increase my understanding. Although I'm used to tinkering with things a little am in no way a programmer and my last phone was a Nokia E65!
1) Please can someone list the different parts of the phone's memories, including which are impossible to write over and which are. E.g. my understanding is:
--One flash chip with:
- 'bootloader', which to me sounds like a PC's BIOS or the kind of app you can boot into on a standard desktop PC when choosing which OS to boot into;
- factory image partition;
- separate partition for over the air updates;
- 1GB partition for user-writeable memory for things like apps installed on the phone, contacts, etc.
--Physically separate 'radio' chip that can be overwritten (I don't understand the difference between this and the OS though)
--RAM;
--microSD card.
2) After following the two guides mentioned above, will I still be able to receive over the air HTC updates in future? And if not, does that mean I'd be relying on the community to make available any official updates? I bought my DHD through an official UK retailer.
3) After following the two guides mentioned above, will it still be possible to restore my phone to its factory state in future, e.g. for resale or sending back to HTC, so everything that we unlock ('eng s-off', 'radio s-off', etc., which fries my brain right now) is locked again? If so, can a guide to this process be linked to?
4) I understand it's possible to switch between custom ROMs easily. When this is done, does that mean all system settings, such as phone contacts and app settings are also switched, or are these settings written to a different part of the phone memory?
I'll be sure to thank (and donate) for your time. Many thanks in advance as well!
Hi, I just bought the DHD 3 weeks ago and it is still difficult to understand to understand all this android stuff sometimes
1) I was a little lost at the beginning too, I don't know if this is what you are looking for but this is what I understood.
There are 4 flashable "things" :
- ROM OS (android OS)
- Linux Kernel (linux kernel)
- ROM radio (another ROM that manage ONLY the hardware stuff like 3G, Wi-Fi, bluetooth, GPS...)
- bootloader (exactly like a bios) and contains a recovery menu (that can be flashed by clockworkmod for example)
The ROM radio seems independant and you can flashed it separatly from the other it doesn't bother. The last versions improve battery life or GPS startup etc...
The ROM OS (android) need to be flashed with the kernel otherwise you can have some problem (wi-fi or data network that doesn't work anymore...).
S-Off means security off and it is necessary to do it if you want to write a new recovery on the bootloader or flash a new radio ROM...
Ther is two kind of S-Off but I'm not sure of the meaning so I let you watch about it.
When you install through the official ways :
1 OTA : You need to have the official recovery from the bootloader otherwise it will NOT work (no OTA with clockworkmod)
If your phone is network-branded you need a goldcard here and/or superCID (I don't really understand here lol)
After the installation I think you keep the S-Off but you're not root anymore.
2 RUU : It will install/reinstall everything (ROM OS, kernel, ROM radio and bootloader).
It is even capable of reseting your CID (your not concerned here because your phone is non-network-branded)
If think you loose the S-Off (or ENG S-Off -> SHIPS S-Off), you're not root anymore...
If you want to keep S-OFF, SuperCID and ClockWorkMod you need to :
1 flash the ROM OS through the ClockWorkMod recovery -> update.zip (you can give it the OTA file .zip, it will only flash the ROM OS)
2 flash the kernel manualy with fastboot (you can also use the boot.img contain in your OTA file)
3 flash the ROM radio (there is the excellent tuto here on XDA about this)
2) OTA will not be possible if you want to use clockworkmod. I was a little anxious about that too at the beginning! But you can find the official
ROMS REALLY easily on XDA probably before your provider send it to you. And when you do everything manually, you can CHOOSE wich radio ROM you want,
you can do backup REALLY quickly with clockworkmod and you can come back (things you can't do if you use OTA)... The last point that confort me
in doing all of this is that you can download OTA but not install it to pick up the ROMs inside and the kernel ! I did it last week and my phone
is now running the two ROMS that was contained in the OTA file AND the kernel. This is why I'm not worried anymore.
3) I never tried to restore my phone to its exact factory settings but I think you can...
4) I don't really now. In my case, I decided to use Google for my contact too, so when I flash, a few minutes later I have all my contacts
I hope my english is not too bad for explainations like this
Hi poumpoum,
Firstly, thanks so much for taking the time to help. Your English is ten times better than my Française! If you've a PayPal account you'd like to Personal Message me, or just the name of your preferred charity, I'd like to say a little thanks that way too.
Okay: so I understand that doing these cool things to my phone means I won't be able to update it over the air. You've convinced me this isn't a problem because any updates find their way to the community.
I'm also convinced I can restore my phone completely to factory defaults due to this thread (the thread's for a different region but the principle still stands).
Thanks for clarifying the radio ROM shares the same physical chip as all the other memory (including the RAM actually, I found this out).
This thread also explained some of the jargon to me.
You're welcome