Help with applying custom rom - Desire Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi there
Please excuse me if this is in the wrong place or whatever i'm relatively new.
I'm looking to put the Pinky Desire ROM onto my Desire, I've had it about a month, and I'm fed up of waiting for o2 to pull their finger out.
Basically I'm looking for some guides to root and apply this rom, any links would be greatly appreciated.
I've also bought a few apps from the market and wondering how to back these up and also if flashing this rom will affect anything on my sd card.
Thank you in advance for any help, I'm extremely happy I've found such a great community on the net and hope to become very active here!
Thanks,
Toyface

really not that hard to find... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=696189
and about the paid apps... everyone have their own accounts for the Android Market, when you have paid for an app, it should be saved so that when you do flash the phone, and login with your account, it should know that you have already paid for certine apps and you should be able to download for free.. at least thats my theary, sorry, never bought any apps, free is good enough for me
hope this helps! good luck!

Related

Backing Up Everything

Apologies if this appears elsewhere but I have looked without success. If it does then a link to the solution would be great.
Basically I found this site a few weeks ago and since then have been tinkering with my phone. I've tried various roms, added different programs, played about with the settings and so on. Today I have finally got it just how I want it. It is overclocked to run quickly but safely. The today screen is perfect. It contains everything I need including my huge list of contacts. And my theme is spot-on. However usually in life when everything is right something big and hairy appears out of nowhere and dumps on you. Its got to the point where I panic every time I turn it on just in case it crashes and I need to start all over again.
My question therefore is if anyone knows of a utility (or can give detailed instructions) to completely back up the phone. Right down to the user settings, theme and contacts. If possible maybe even to create a rom image of my phone so that if it does ever crash I can reinstall the whole thing from one simple file. I assume this sort of thing must be possible because Kavana and Ricky produce such wonderful roms with various programs, etc pre-installed.
Can it be done? And if so - can it be done by an enthusiastic amateur or do you need to be a tech guru? I should add I don't mind paying if I need to buy a piece of commercial software to achieve this.
GS
Did you even bother to search google for "smartphone backup" ? The very first link that comes up, takes you right to the software you say you need. I apologize for being harsh, but I hate the lack of common sense...
An option
Not sure about the cooked 6.1 Roms. Maybe someone else might know or have tried.
http://www.spritesoftware.com/
I use this and it's well worth it.
if u just mean the saved registry values and what not u can always export the registry so that way if u have to hard reset the phone or if a new amazingly wowlike rom is released and u NEED to flash u can always import the registry values of the chomes and it'll be the way u left it (thats what I do for my myfaves and my programs)
OrganicM said:
Did you even bother to search google for "smartphone backup" ? The very first link that comes up, takes you right to the software you say you need. I apologize for being harsh, but I hate the lack of common sense...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem, and you are entitled to your opinion. however its replies like that which stop people making posts to forums like this. Everyone has to start somewhere, and one man's obvious "common sense" answer is another man's dilemma.
As for using google... yep I could have done that but google links to hundreds of pages, some owned by people trying to sell software which obviously means they won't be objective. Others have methods which could damage a phone and because I don't know the writers how do I know which methods to trust? Ergo I decided to come to site I know, with people whose technical knowhow I trust, and to search the forum and then ask them for advice. To me, that is common sense. Isn't that one of the reasons that places like this exist? So non techheads can ask guys like you for help?
No offence intended and, for what its worth, you are one of the guys whose advice on this forum has helped me countless times. So thank you for that no matter what. Without your posts I'd never have got this far in the first place! I mean that.
As for the other replies... thanks guys. I will look into the registry stuff. And I will certainly check out the software link. If I do find some info on google, I hope you folks will help me pick the best method to use and avoid bad advice.
Thanks again.
GS
Okay the Sprite software is perfect. And now I've checked it out maybe my question was a stupid one. Still, its nice to have a recommendation from an independent source. I've been burnt in the past by bad google advice.
Sorry if I've wasted anyone's time.
GS

Quick yes or no Question.

Hello everyone. I'm thinking on buying HTC magic, i've been reading a bit about the Hacking to run new roms. My only objective was to run apps, or unoficial apps. Do i need to hack the HTC in order to run them ? I couldnt find awser of this question i hope someone can help Thank you,
Regards
A) Your question really doesn't make sense.
B) This is the HTC Hero forums, not the HTC Sapphire (Magic) forums.
jgcaap said:
Hello everyone. I'm thinking on buying HTC magic, i've been reading a bit about the Hacking to run new roms. My only objective was to run apps, or unoficial apps. Do i need to hack the HTC in order to run them ? I couldnt find awser of this question i hope someone can help Thank you,
Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well first of all, you posted in the hero section.
about your questions, hacking is too much of a big word. better say rooting.
depends on the applications you want to install. majority of them you wont need to root your phone for them to run. there is an option to enable 3rd party applications in the menu itself. however, some applications do require rooting of the phone, for example wifi teetering, bluetooth sharing...
oh sorry i made mistake :\ but i think it would be the same.
i'll try formulate. I wish to download a pack of apps from the internet. I do not know if they are signed or not (not even know if android has that protection as windows mobile has ) . My question was if i can install those apps on the android oficial OS from HTC.
I Hope it was better formulated the question. Thanks again!
For example. i'm downloading this collection of apps: h**p://isohunt.com/torrent_details/148986681/android?tab=summary
Will i need to root or it isnt necessary? What kind of apps need rooting? Or this kind i do not have to worry about.
Thanks =)
jgcaap said:
For example. i'm downloading this collection of apps: h**p://isohunt.com/torrent_details/148986681/android?tab=summary
Will i need to root or it isnt necessary? What kind of apps need rooting? Or this kind i do not have to worry about.
Thanks =)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
from the list you quoted, you dont have to root your phone for the vast majority of them. rooting is required to access proteccted files of the system from your phone
alright excelent. Thank you for your kind help =) I was becoming interested on the iphone but after i saw android, kind of blocked my eyes. the system is great hehe. Thank you again =)
But downloading pirated apps is a good way to get your phone blacklisted & banned from the Android Market.
gu1dry said:
But downloading pirated apps is a good way to get your phone blacklisted & banned from the Android Market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i don't support piracy, especially not when it comes down to apps for a few $$... but i neither support divulgement of false propaganda.
so please explain how my phone is going to be banned from the market, this is the first time i hear of this?
kendong2 said:
i don't support piracy, especially not when it comes down to apps for a few $$... but i neither support divulgement of false propaganda.
so please explain how my phone is going to be banned from the market, this is the first time i hear of this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+ Eleventy
oh how is this detectable so far? why are they banning people from it? wont they loose money that way? If i dont root my phone, most apps i have on this list will work, in that way i wont get blacklisted? Thanks

[Q] how to make roms?

Hello All
firstly, thank you to every person who already knows how to do the following. i love the work you do, keep it coming.
i was just wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of how to make custom ROMS for HTC Desire.
every rom i seem to download always have loads of stuff thats great but always missing one or two things that i cant live without from the stock rom, so i want to take a look see if i can work it out.
any reading material you have would be great.
thank in advance
superliam said:
Hello All
firstly, thank you to every person who already knows how to do the following. i love the work you do, keep it coming.
i was just wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of how to make custom ROMS for HTC Desire.
every rom i seem to download always have loads of stuff thats great but always missing one or two things that i cant live without from the stock rom, so i want to take a look see if i can work it out.
any reading material you have would be great.
thank in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, there is a little box on top called search. You where notified about that one when you signed up.
If you plan to publish your ROM/ROM's here, to cut it short do this;
There is a forum section called Chef Central. Read the sticky "Some Advice" in that forum. Then read the sticky on top of Desire Development. Then get begin modding the other ROM's available, so you get a hang of how they work. Then, cook away and test thoroughly.
Thank you for your help

[Q] Chinese DHD is making my life miserable

This is a long rant manifested by my anger from the last few days event dealing with BestBuy China and HTC
I've tried to summarize my problem at the bottom if you don't feel like reading through the horrors of buying a smartphone in mainland China.
Story
-----------------------------------------
I recently decided to say goodbye to my samsung galaxy spica when it was stolen a few days ago. I live and study in China so I head over to BestBuy to get myself a new phone (yes, china has BestBuy). Once I enter the store and announce that I am in a search for a cellphone I am swarmed by five or six cellphone experts. I love android so I tell them I want the HTC desire HD; this temptress of a phone which appeals to my most inner desires. The best buy cellphone guys assures me that the phone is in English and that everything will be to my satisfaction. It is a fine day for spending credit and I am psyched as I draw my golden credit card from my back pocket as a modern warrior. I swipe my card elegantly and fast, as if I am a man who have made purchases of this magnitude many times before. I tell the lady behind the counter, who by the way does not speak a word English:
"Today is the day I am reborn!!"
I grab my newly purchased baby and throw myself into a taxi. I force the phone out of its wrappings and switch it on as soon as I'm done telling the taxi driver to take me home. The HTC logo appears "quietly briliant" it proclaims. After a few seconds of that the phone asks me weather I want English or Chinese? As my English is substantially better than my Chinese I went with English, cool enough! As I get home in range of my wireless I enter my google account details and I'm set! I tell this baby to automatically sync everything I got. I receive my first email after only 3 minutes of syncing and can see my entire inbox, really cool! My contacts and calendar is probably right around the corner but since it's kind of late I go to bed, I'm a very happy first time HTC customer and I dream a happy dream about flowers.
You can probably guess that this is the paragraph where it all turns to ****. Correct. I wake up and find that neither my contacts nor calendar have been synced. Probably a glitch. I enter the sync settings and find that my google account isn't there. Probably something I've missed. I press "Add account" and find that there is no option to add an google account at all, not cool. I search high and low for an answer, read cryptic texts translated by the mighty google translate. People keep saying to just look press "add account" and add my google account and follow the on screen instructions. Since I know I'm following the instructions correctly I just figure I give HTC a call to finally just fix this minor issue. I hit up HTC Hong Kong (HTC China doesn't have a English site so it's hard to navigate). They tell me that I have a Simplified Chinese rom. Ok, well that figures, I think to myself.. So how can I sync my google account? "I'm sorry sir that's not possible, you can however try to sync your gmail account to Microsoft outlook 2003/2007 and manually sync contacts every time you connect to your computer."
(excuse my language but I don't know any other way to express my feelings at that time other than...) "What the ****!?"
Is it not an android device I am wielding in my hand? Do I need a workaround to sync my google account? The tech support-guy asks for my email "to check if my device has that function (read: sync google accounts)" and he will contact me later. Turns out I can sync my contacts and calendar semi effectively through exchange activeSync. Alright, not exactly what I wanted but, pheeeew!! I can work with this.
I start customizing my DHD and think to myself, would it not be nice with some apps to go with this phone? Yeah, it would! I head over to the android market and install all the apps I could ever dream of. No wait, where is the android market? Oh there it is.. it's just called 'HTC Marketplace', figures, since this is an HTC device I'm holding. I head over to the HTC Marketplace.
HTC Marketplace greets me:
"I will provide you with the best application to your specific device, son!"
"Great, like apps that are customized to fit the DHD?"
"No, apps that are in Chinese."
"Oh, so how do I access my regular apps, like barcodescanner, facebook, youtube, spotify, etc? You know, the good ol' apps I've come to love over the years?"
"Sorry son, I don't know why, but that's just impossible for me to do for you, because my programming tells me I hate you"
Since HTC marketplace hates my guts I hit up HTC tech support again. My conversation goes a little like this:
"Hello, I'm having trouble with the android market"
"Yes, you want access the android market?"
"Yes"
"I'm sorry to inform you that you that you cant access the android market, but you can however access the beautiful world of 'HTC marketplace', a world of possibilities and anime!"
"I wish I bought an iPhone 4..."
Yeah well, I guess it just wasn't meant to be, I should just return the DHD to bestbuy and order one from America or europe. What do you know? In China there is no such thing as a return policy. And the cellphone guys who told me I would be more than happy with my new DHD can't understand why I possibly can be unhappy with it and they suggest stuff like "Go on the internet", "Try calling HTC and ask them to open your phone for american internet access" and my favorite "You can call and send messages? Yes? Then no problem with your phone, go home"
So now I'm stuck with the most expensive phone I've ever purchased which China ruthlessly ripped the heart and soul out of, only to sell it to me and tell me the phone is more than good enough since it can make calls and send messages.
Sure to say, I had the worst day..
I should have ordered from Hong Kong.
/rant
-----------------------------------------
Problem
In short, I have a Chinese DHD without the ability to access the android market and it is generally crippled. This is apparently because of the Traditional Chinese rom it comes with. I would ultimately like to have a generic/stock DHD rom (I'm not quite sure what you call them but vanilla, out of the box, etc in world wide english) and I have no idea if this is possible or where to start my journey towards fixing this.
I've been reading about rooting for two days now and I still am unsure as to what I should do and where to start. Please, help a fellow out, I'm having a really bad week.
My phone:
Android version: 2.2.1
Build number: 1.75.1400.4
Software number 1.0.0.A9191
(If you need any other info from me please do tell me)
Impossible to do anything, as rooting not possible.
Chinese user with a HongKong DHD
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
In theory, you could install WWE (world wide english) stock ROM, but unfortunatelly, not with your software version as it is not rootable yet
Bloody hell that sounds bad, is this will all Chinese Desire HDs then? It's almost like one of those knock-off phones although you have purchased it genuinely. Don't know how things work in China but if you cant root it then give HTC a call and demand a replacement from Europe/America.
Again, don't know how things work in China but i would so furious that i would cancel my credit card and tell them to go screw themselves. Speak to a lawyer if you intend to do that..
if you really cant give the phone back, try to sell it.
perhaps anyone else will buy it.
than get one from europe or the US.
thats so damn pity, caus the phone os realy godlike i think.
if u cant sell it and dont have enuff money for a new nice phone, wait a little until an root hack for your version comes out.
thats really bad, i know
sry m8!
Just wait around for the root to come out for the software just like the rest of suckers who updated! ;p
Would the Goldcard method work here?
It should in theory work. I'm not sure you need root access to just flash a ROM from a different region. I did it on my previous Desire which I got from Hong Kong. Flashed a WWE ROM when Froyo was released.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
The problem is with Google, not China or HTC. Just like most of the 3rd world countries can't buy anything on the Android Marketplace (nevermind that fact that we cant even develop a paid app to publish on the market).
hehehehe ... i just read through your rant ... made quite a read .. ok now to fix your problem
Root your phone .. its no biggie follow this link and you will be all set
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=841076
next go to the development section , choose a rom of your liking .. suggest android revolution hd or leedroid .... read instructions and flash your phone .. .that should pretty much fix your problem ... do let us know how it went
Edit: Oops just saw that your build is 1.75 ... Sorry mate , no root for the phone at the moment
Maybe you should re-read his post, especially the end.
The latest HTC update has been applied, there is no root or ENG HBOOT options at the moment.
A little update
I've been emailing HTC asking them to fix (read: let me return) the phone ever since I realized I wouldn't be able to return the phone to BestBuy and I just got a call from HTC.
First a guy who could only speak Chinese called, sure to say that wasn't a very productive conversation as my Chinese is very basic. I then recieve a second call late at night from someone at the Hong Kong office who speaks English. After about 5 minutes of telling me that he understood my situation, could feel my pain, was sympathetic to my problem and would do everything in his power to help solve it, I thought things were looking up! The conversation progresses like this but gradually he starts saying stuff like "help you make use of your device as best as we can" and "make it easy for you to operate". This was when I realized this person was not going to help me. I knew that if he was going to actually help he would have told me by now that I could return the phone, not this about "easing me into the phone". Finally the guy gets to the point and says "But although we understand your problem, there is nothing wrong with the hardware itself and we can not help you return the phone. Your perceived problem is with the software."
Christ..
To this I of course reply "Even though the problem is software related it's not any less of a problem, it has rendered the phone completely useless to me and I don't think the phone fulfilles the vision I got after reading reviews and watching the ads before buying it" ...And here we go again with the appoligizes and general willingness to help me use the phone as it currently is. He even asked me which applications I was missing so he could try and find Chinese "replacement apps", or Chinese apps that would fulfill my needs.
I'm not giving up yet, I'm sure HTC is willing to help me with this if I could only reach the right people in the organization. This is has turned into a genuine nightmare first time experience with HTC..
@RED_ I think this is how all Chinese DHD works, yes. And I don’t think I want to risk seeing the inside of a Chinese prison by cancelling my credit card although it is very tempting :\
@Eddie1506; tranceonline; momavujistic; irteza_h, I guess I have to wait for someone with the know-how to make my version rootable. I’m turning off automatic updates on my phone to prevent it from further updating.
@leppie, I can’t even access the free applications. I think HTC (or google) made this ‘HTC marketplace’ to be accepted by the government. When I was speaking with HTC today I asked why there was no access to the android market in the first place. They told me “because your phone is Chinese and the market you can access is specialized to your location and the customers in that location”. Which I think means that they can’t sell phones with the open android market in China because of government restrictions. The real android market works down here though, I could access it through on my European Samsung Galaxy.
andyharney said:
Would the Goldcard method work here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
olivierlee said:
It should in theory work. I'm not sure you need root access to just flash a ROM from a different region. I did it on my previous Desire which I got from Hong Kong. Flashed a WWE ROM when Froyo was released.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you guys saying it might work? If there's a chance I will try. How can I test this? Or is it safest to wait for someone to come up with a way to root this device?
How long does it generally take for a new root technique to be ready? Also, I've seen people complaining because they updated to version 1.72 or something. I have 1.75, does this mean 1) that I have to wait a lot longer or maybe 2) that my phone has some kind of special software?
hey there,
after reading your messages through this morning and everything, you should be able to flash a WWE Rom using this guide --> here <--
i hope this helps you liberate your DHD, if you need any help with this guide let me know ill guide you through
its the goldcard method.
Yep, try the goldcard method. If it works you'll get a WWE Desire HD. Not sure you need to do all these. You might just try to create a goldcard, have it in your phone, and just run any WWE RUU you want. I'd stay away from the 1.72 one as it seems to be causing alot of problems. However you might not be able to buy apps from the market since buying paid apps from the market is not possible from China. See http://market.android.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=143779 .
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
well there is a liberated market somewhere on the forums for DHD
your phone was 'harmonised' by the communist government
I think you really should gain root access to your device and flash a customised ROM on it, in *should* solve your problem. though you probably want to have a backup before you do so
To be honest scientist, i wish you read earliar he cant root a 1. 75 rom. So he'll have to use the goldcard method
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
His best option is as suggested by flo. Just hours ago a method has been released which will allow him to downgrade to the wwe stock rom 1.32 version. From there he can root and install a custom rom, or if preferred simply keep it at stock and update it to wwe 1.72 version. As far as market restrictions go it is possible to use "market enabler" hacks to allow paid access to the market anywhere.
This sounds like good news!
Yesterday when I wrote the original reply I was kind of drunk and it was 6am I think so I'm just rewriting the entire reply. For all it shortcomings when it comes to smartphones, China do have a lot of opportunities for people (like me) who want to stay out all night singing karaoke and eating popcorn. Anyway, I think the best approach, instead of asking any of you to hold my hand through this is that I just post what I think I should do and then you can tell me if I'm way off target.
Is this correct?
Step 1 - making a goldcard
I think you are saying that I need to make a goldcard and for that I follow the 'creating a goldcard' over at modaco.com. It looks quite straightforward so I don't think this will be a problem. However, I need to venture out into China and find a real SDcard with an adapter (guess I'm heading over to BestBuy again)
Question: In the downgrading thread it says to "Use MMC2!!", what does that mean?
Step 2 - Downgrading
I've extracted the downgrade folder conveniently to d:\downgrade and will open cmd and type inn all the commands I have no idea what actually does (I'm used to this ). Then I will look for "#" and proceed. I will copy PD98IMG.zip to the goldcard and hopefully there will be some instructions of some kind that I can follow.
Step 3 - profit?
If all this works what should I do next? Or more, where am I? What will happen after this? Do I have a stock rom now? And can I just stop there and update the rom and be happy? I do plan to root my device some time later, but for now I will be more than super happy just to have a wwe stock rom with no root, fully updated with the android market. Am I far off?
Success! Got myself a goldcard!
Now what do I do with it? (for real, it's not really clear in any of the guides what I should do with the goldcard microSD). Do I put it into the phone?

Will somebody help me with removing remote spyware from a ROM before I flash it.

I'm on a new mission now. I wanna take the "eyes and ears" off of a particular ROM. I had my suspicions and tried to load a anti spyware app. Several of them caused my evo to reboot before it's finished downloading. I can load any app from Google play, but a spyware app. Hmmm... I'm not gonna say which ROM it is openly because I am afraid I'll get banned. I'm gonna ask for advice from a senior member about somebody else's ROM. Not sure If he'll help, but I'm hoping he will at least point me in the right direction. I have a feeling it's mislabeled or more than likely spread out within numerous apps. I can't find any decent info on detecting and removing the remote spy/data reporter apps that are out there. Interestingly though, I came across the one I had on my phone recently, which is what prompted me to root my phone and come here to XDA. I just want a clean ROM that can handle social media and a large volume of MP3"s I'm so sick of flashing. I'm about to chalk this effort and go buy an HTC One. I'm frustrated man....
Have you tried downloading the apps OUTSIDE of google play and putting it on your phones sdcard then using say root browser or any kind of file browser to install the app off the sdcard?
also you should be able to get rid of the lil bastard (the spyware) by doing a factory data reset through recovery.
or just flash to a stock ROM. i can see many of ways to solve this but not sure if its the help your wanting...
and i dont see any reason youd get banned for naming a ROM

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