Develop Bugs

[Q] post/pre OTA explaination?

Could someone explain or point me in the direction of an explanation for how installing a custom rom affected automatic updates, as well as the difference between pre and post ota, and why we can't install a pure clean android 2.2 installation in our phones. I am relatively new to this, but did alot of iPhone hacking before.. I've already rooted, S-OFF and flashed a few different roms having my phone 2 weeks and new to android hope someone can explain, thanks :_)

When you flash a custom ROM, you will no longer get the automatic updates OTA. Either you will have to revert to the stock ROM for the update, or the ROM developer will have to incorporate the OTA update changes into the ROM.
There are a few ROMs that attempt to give you a plain vanilla Android experience. But in my opinion, Cyanogen is one of the best mixes of plain Android with lots of extra features.

Okay that makes sense, I'm currently using a villian rom with no sense, is it worth my while installing cyanogen? and if so will i go with RC4 of wait for the stable release?

jakbjak said:
Could someone explain or point me in the direction of an explanation for how installing a custom rom affected automatic updates, as well as the difference between pre and post ota, and why we can't install a pure clean android 2.2 installation in our phones. I am relatively new to this, but did alot of iPhone hacking before.. I've already rooted, S-OFF and flashed a few different roms having my phone 2 weeks and new to android hope someone can explain, thanks :_)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, the reason for many semi-bricks from trying to downgrade to original stock rom pre- or post-OTA was the fact that hboot was hacked, and not truly "S-OFF." If you search the dev section you will find the S-OFF, SIM unlock, SuperCID guide that will give you true S-OFF. I recommend reading that--it helped elucidate why semi-bricks were showing up. Once this is done, it should be easy to flash a rooted, stock ROM when the OTAs start showing up and get the update that way, or just wait for it appear in the forums (which is usually sooner than the OTA gets pushed out, anyhow).

So the S-OFF I have isn't complete? Not that I need a sim unlock as I bought the phone off contract, but it's worth my while getting the true S-OFF? Thanks for all ye're help, there are so many people talking about these things in every section it's hard to pull a search of a simple explanation,

jakbjak said:
So the S-OFF I have isn't complete? Not that I need a sim unlock as I bought the phone off contract, but it's worth my while getting the true S-OFF? Thanks for all ye're help, there are so many people talking about these things in every section it's hard to pull a search of a simple explanation,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the previous S-OFF was via an engineering version of HBOOT, which was set to report S-OFF. But the security setting is actually held in the radio, and was still S-ON.
The new, "true" S-OFF (via gfree) is a lot safer than the old method, e.g. much less prone to a brick if you flash the wrong thing (e.g. an older RUU than the ROM you're running).

[Q] stock update S-OFF phone

I've used the search but frankly, the vBulletin search still sucks after all these years.
I rooted the phone following this guide. Now my phone says a system update is available.
Since I would like to install it (my phone is still 1.34, I think. The latest version should be 1.72, right?) and installing a stock update onto a S-OFF phone is highly inadvisable (I've read), how do I go about this?
I have Visionary installed but it says the phone does not appear rooted, even though it is (just checked).
I'm sure there have been others with similar questions and I just couldn't find the right thread. If so, please point me in the right direction.
Regards and thank you,

Kokuyo said:
I've used the search but frankly, the vBulletin search still sucks after all these years.
I rooted the phone following this guide. Now my phone says a system update is available.
Since I would like to install it (my phone is still 1.34, I think. The latest version should be 1.72, right?) and installing a stock update onto a S-OFF phone is highly inadvisable (I've read), how do I go about this?
I have Visionary installed but it says the phone does not appear rooted, even though it is (just checked).
I'm sure there have been others with similar questions and I just couldn't find the right thread. If so, please point me in the right direction.
Regards and thank you,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why did you root your phone? There is no need to update your phone to the latest OTA update if you are wanting to install custom ROMs.

Because I was testing custom mods and wanted to go back to stock?

Kokuyo said:
Because I was testing custom mods and wanted to go back to stock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ahhh, I thought you had just rooted it. I updated the day after I received my new phone. I had problems with bluetooth (music wouldn't resume after ending phone calls) and wound up here on the XDA forums looking for answers. I ended up rooting my phone, installing CM6 and now CM7 and never looked back. There is no bluetooth switching problems using CM builds so I'm happy.

Found this:
http://www.thinkthinkdo.com/trac/project1/wiki/back_to_stock

Thanks, that looks interesting. Now the only question: Do I need my original CID? And if so, how do I find it now that the CID has been changed by gfree?

That link is about a procedure to restore the stock G2 ROM. Since you seem to have a DZ ROM, I'm not sure if you want to flash a G2 ROM (though the other bits might be useful).
The 1.72 OTA update has been rootable for some time now, so you can safely accept the update if you want. But it might be easier just to flash the 1.72 ROM in its entireity (you can get it from the dev forum).
With SuperCID and S-OFF you should have no problems flashing 1.72.

steviewevie said:
With SuperCID and S-OFF you should have no problems flashing 1.72.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? Then I don't quite understand the stickied warning thread that says to never, ever attempt that.
Anyhow, I gave the Virtuous mod another go. Since it has sense and 1.72 I'm thinking of testing this one out a bit more, before I go flashing stock.
Thanks for the replies, though.

[Q] rooting desire hd doesn't work?

Last night I've upgraded my Desire HD android 2.3 (the official update from htc)
I've waited with rooting my device until the official update came out.
I've tried rooting with visionary, but it doesn't seem to work. :s
I haven't tried rooting on an other way yet, but is it possible I'm not able to root my device yet because it's running on gingerbread now?
Or won't there ever be a way to root it?
I hope I'll get a quick answer, I'm quite a newbie to this and I'd like to have my device rooted!

Daenekindternational said:
Last night I've upgraded my Desire HD android 2.3 (the official update from htc)
I've waited with rooting my device until the official update came out.
I've tried rooting with visionary, but it doesn't seem to work. :s
I haven't tried rooting on an other way yet, but is it possible I'm not able to root my device yet because it's running on gingerbread now?
Or won't there ever be a way to root it?
I hope I'll get a quick answer, I'm quite a newbie to this and I'd like to have my device rooted!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
before to root you must to downgrade your device,, but mate... browse "downgrade dhd" in the XDA browser avobe... i´m sure that your going to find it quickly...

Daenekindternational said:
Last night I've upgraded my Desire HD android 2.3 (the official update from htc)
I've waited with rooting my device until the official update came out.
I've tried rooting with visionary, but it doesn't seem to work. :s
I haven't tried rooting on an other way yet, but is it possible I'm not able to root my device yet because it's running on gingerbread now?
Or won't there ever be a way to root it?
I hope I'll get a quick answer, I'm quite a newbie to this and I'd like to have my device rooted!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
take this link its the same question answered few posts ago...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1064229
use the browse before (my recomendation) its faster that post an ask
cheers and sorry for my bad english buddy!!

Do I need to downgrade to android 2.2 again (or something, sorry I'm totally new at this) before I can root my device?
So there's no way to root it when it's still has gingerbread?

Daenekindternational said:
Do I need to downgrade to android 2.2 again (or something, sorry I'm totally new at this) before I can root my device?
So there's no way to root it when it's still has gingerbread?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope.. the only one rom rootable its 1.32xxx WEE OFICIAL RUU
BUT DON´T WORRY DOWNGRADE ITS AN EASY STEP..
if you need help post again in Q&A mate...

First, I need to downgrade (but I don't understand the gold card)
Then I need to root
Then I need it to be s-off? And then I can install custom recoveries (= custom roms??), but what if I don't want custom roms?
If I just want to tweak a bit with the gingerbread+sense version I have at the moment (changing icons in notification bar, changing bootscreen etc), do I still need to continue with the s-off step?
Or can I only tweak with the things I want if I have a custom rom?

Daenekindternational said:
First, I need to downgrade (but I don't understand the gold card)
Then I need to root
Then I need it to be s-off? And then I can install custom recoveries (= custom roms??), but what if I don't want custom roms?
If I just want to tweak a bit with the gingerbread+sense version I have at the moment (changing icons in notification bar, changing bootscreen etc), do I still need to continue with the s-off step?
Or can I only tweak with the things I want if I have a custom rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
okay let´s do it...
if you want to flash later another different baseband (radio) you need s-off & you must to continue doing it... (with Radio s-off tool... etc..)
but its not neccesary for to flash a new rom...
custom recovery isn´t a rom..
custom rec. its a menú that you need for to flash roms... etc into your machine..
neccesary for recover your system if anything goes badly (IMPORTANT)...
AND FINALLY... you can flash custom roms that are not ported from another device or are not themed etcc... simply are OFFICIAL ROMS (WEE OFFICIAL RUU named) only with root acces, (deodexed, zipaligned...etc for better performance... sometimes upper that 50 % speedup!! )
if you flashes a official rom without root incorporated your going to lose your work (root... recovery,, etc.. but not s-off)
i recommend to you that continue doing s-off and eng-off for obtain "CID 111111" (BROWSE what is this an judge by yourself )

[Q] Why downgrade?

I'm root curious as I want to remove my carriers branded software, and after the lastest update my phone has developed a lag, so I am considering rooting and a rom but I am confused.
The how to root guide talks about downgrading? Is this a good idea?
Do I need permanent root?
Thanks in advance..
HTC Desire HD A9191 in the UK on Orange
android 2.3.5
sense 3.0

I cant remember the exact process as i rooted my phone more than a year ago.
Basically you need to gain temp root, then downgrade in order to achieve permanent root.

toys19 said:
I'm root curious as I want to remove my carriers branded software, and after the lastest update my phone has developed a lag, so I am considering rooting and a rom but I am confused.
The how to root guide talks about downgrading? Is this a good idea?
Do I need permanent root?
Thanks in advance..
HTC Desire HD A9191 in the UK on Orange
android 2.3.5
sense 3.0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you need to dowgrade first. You can folllow this guide
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1259821
Is a one step process to root, S-OFF, supercid, custom recovery etc. Then you will be able to flash any custom rom or a stock rooted rom.
Follow the instructions very carefully.

Ah Ok so does that mean you cannot root unless you downgrade? So when you install a custom rom does it upgrade you again?
I'm kind of lost as to why running older/downgraded software is good idea once you have gained root?

toys19 said:
Ah Ok so does that mean you cannot root unless you downgrade? So when you install a custom rom does it upgrade you again?
I'm kind of lost as to why running older/downgraded software is good idea once you have gained root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is that on DHD is not possible to root (actually) if you have android 2.3.5.
So you need to downgrade first. Once you have rooted the phone you can flash a Stock rooted android 2.3.5 sense 3.0 (like the one you have now) or a custom rom.
This one is a stock rooted android 2.3.5 sense 3.0 for example (f you like the stock feeling) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1382235.
Hope it helps

Clarifies it perfectly. I understand now, thanks very much for your reply.

Glad it helped

The next question then is - I guess what I really want is to keep my phone as it is now. So If I do the advanced ace hack , install that stock rom above, my phone will be exactly the same (like with all my settings etc? except I can uninstall all the crappy orange bloatware etc?

toys19 said:
The next question then is - I guess what I really want is to keep my phone as it is now. So If I do the advanced ace hack , install that stock rom above, my phone will be exactly the same (like with all my settings etc? except I can uninstall all the crappy orange bloatware etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you will run the ace hack kit you will be prompted to download a RUU in order to downgrade. Be carefull and chose the WWE (world wide english) and not a branded one. Doing so you will get rid of all crappy bloatware.
If you will download the rom I linked, your phone will be exactly as it is now (not the settings of course, you will lose your settings).
It will be as out of the box and need to set again.
Just be carefull and follow exactly (read twice and even more) the instructions.

OK I am doing mucho reading as we speak!

Good. I did it too.
Read, learn and try. It's the only way.
I bought my DHD in February 2011 and googled aroud this forums to learn, finally on december I decided to join. Good luck!!

[Q] Downgraded to 2.1, Rooted successfully, now low space problem,Can't update new v.

Hi,
Sorry I am a new to android and to this forum also. I have some questions which I need your expert opinion.
I have downgraded using [HOWTO] Downgrade Froyo (2.2) to Stock 2.1 (ANY HBOOT | WIN/LINUX/MAC | ROOT) and rooted successfully with Unrevoked because other method did not work.
I have installed some programs, to my surprise it has occupied all the space and application can't be transferred to SD. Later, I found App2SD is not working with this version 2.1.
Update phone popped out & I tried to download and install but in vain. It shows some triangular shape with exclamation mark inside that triangle.
What is the solution now ? can I transfer my app2SD like before with 2.2.2 version ? How to unroot now & update from the server and revert back to the same because I found downgrade is outdated ?
Did I make mistake choosing downgrade method? What are the choices do I have to work like before ?
Thank you in advance.

oh god what on earth have you been doing.
If you have another android phone then make a goldcard and stick it into the broken desire.
boot into fastboot mode (hold back & power), plug in via usb, download and install the latest WWE RUU (can find on my guide).
If you can't make a goldcard, look for the RUU for your network provider (e.g. vodafone, tmobile etc.) and use that. Make sure it's a 2.2 Froyo RUU and its not just the OTA update!!
if that's too hard for you, go on my guide and download the 2.3 RUU and use that.
Once the phone's been updated go to revolutionary.io and use the tool. It works every time.
Then flash recovery, look at my guide on how to do so.
Then backup your current ROM and flash away with anything you want. Just make sure to do a full wipe between flashes (boot, system, data, cache, dalvik)

Dear bortak,
Thank you for the reply.
I do not have another android so it looks that I won't be able to make a goldcard. Among other options you gave me ?RUU I will look at your guide how to make. Hope that 2.3 will works.
Is gold card necessary ? Can I make it after 2.3 installation ?
Will do accordingly as per you advice.
How to back up current ROM and flash anything ???
Sorry I am totally new to this androind. Has been using like a layman.
Thank you much appreciated.

unless your phone was bought unbranded, it will have a Customer ID that links it to a particular network. If you try to use a RUU (ROM Update Utility) that was not released for your phone, you will receive a CID Error. A goldcard makes the phone ignore the CID, and therefore you can use any RUU you want, so you don't have to worry about getting the right one.
So, if you got your phone with Vodafone like I did, you need to download a Vodafone RUU.
The 2.3 RUU is the 2.3 Gingerbread released by HTC, and it was not given as an OTA (Over The Air) update. The 2.3 RUU de-brands your phone, and it doesn't matter where you got the phone from, you can use that one regardless.
It is recommended that you use the RUU for your network provider, as if that goes wrong, you can try it again, or use the 2.3 RUU.
If you use the 2.3 RUU and something goes wrong, you have nothing to fall back on, because you cannot simply roll-back software versions using RUU's, you can only update.
So, if I were you, I'd go to shipped-roms.com and try to find the right RUU for you. If you bought the phone unbranded (i.e. you din't get it from a network) you can just use the latest WWE RUU. If you got it on contract or PAYG from a network e.g. Vodafone, then you need to download the Vodafone RUU. (Make sure it's the 2.2 Froyo one, and it doesn't say "OTA", because that's just an update, not the full RUU).

It is not branded (no network). What ever is best I try to do. Which one is the l latest WWE RUU ?
Do I need to follow this full:
S-OFF
[STEP1]- download "Bravo Stock" from Alpharev
[STEP2]- download Android Flasher
[STEP3]- use android flasher to flash "Bravo Stock"
[STEP4]- run the RUU again and wait for it to finish
Thanks.

drmg said:
It is not branded (no network). What ever is best I try to do. Which one is the l latest WWE RUU ?
Do I need to follow this full:
S-OFF
[STEP1]- download "Bravo Stock" from Alpharev
[STEP2]- download Android Flasher
[STEP3]- use android flasher to flash "Bravo Stock"
[STEP4]- run the RUU again and wait for it to finish
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nono, you only need to use that guide when something goes wrong.
Find the WWE RUU in #resources, boot into fastboot, plug it in and run the RUU. Then you can look on S-OFF problems.

Thanks & Need to explore android more
Dear bortak,
Thanks for your guidance.
While exploring the abilities of android, I was lost. Without you it would not have possible.
I have installed 2.3.3 accordingly. It has upgraded perfectly.
I had problem with rooting
I did according to revolutionary. io It worked with ease, S-Offed but not rooted.
In my desperation I have tried Unrevoked. It also did not work. It says "Your firmware is too new" . Did all the methods from changing version of Unrevoked and uninstalling one program. Still did not work. No ROOT
Finally, I found that I have not done complete task. I re-tried revolutionary. io and browse through different resources about it. Revolutionary was explained in a simple & efficient way in theunlockrdotcom. I followed that those steps & finally root was successfully.
It would not have possible without your support.
Now, I have done rooting. What wanted to see other aspects ? What can be done now to make the android works without restrain ? Flashing ?? ROM ?
Now, do I have to make a goldcard ?
Please advice me what are the other things I can do to work with android above the usual layman. Thanks.

drmg said:
Dear bortak,
Thanks for your guidance.
While exploring the abilities of android, I was lost. Without you it would not have possible.
I have installed 2.3.3 accordingly. It has upgraded perfectly.
I had problem with rooting
I did according to revolutionary. io It worked with ease, S-Offed but not rooted.
In my desperation I have tried Unrevoked. It also did not work. It says "Your firmware is too new" . Did all the methods from changing version of Unrevoked and uninstalling one program. Still did not work. No ROOT
Finally, I found that I have not done complete task. I re-tried revolutionary. io and browse through different resources about it. Revolutionary was explained in a simple & efficient way in theunlockrdotcom. I followed that those steps & finally root was successfully.
It would not have possible without your support.
Now, I have done rooting. What wanted to see other aspects ? What can be done now to make the android works without restrain ? Flashing ?? ROM ?
Now, do I have to make a goldcard ?
Please advice me what are the other things I can do to work with android above the usual layman. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you already upgraded to the 2.3 RUU, the 2.2 RUU's go out of the window, so you don't need a goldcard.
Flashing is basically the process of replacing the entire Android OS for a different version.
Key subgroups are:
Sense 2.0/2.1
Sense 3.0/3.5
Stock AOSP Gingerbread
Customised AOSP Gingerbread
MIUI AOSP Gingerbread
AOSP ICS (UNSTABLE)
AOSP: Android Open Source Project
If you have not already done so, you need to flash a recovery image to your device. You can either do this by installing the 4EXT recovery control from the Play Store, or you can look at my guide for guidance on how to do so manually.
Remember to backup before flashing anything.
Some ROMs take advantage of custom bootloaders. Custom bootloaders basically change the partition sizes of the nand memory of your device (its internal memory). It changes the /system /data and /cache partitions, and because many ROMs only require smaller /system partitions, more memory can be freed up in /data. Go to alpharev.nl for more information, there is a guide on how to flash bootloaders on my guide also, and read on the thread what hboot the ROM needs.
Before you flash, it is good to do a full wipe (boot, system, data, cache, dalvik) as this helps to prevent any errors from occurring.

Looks complicated though I will try. Thank you very much.

drmg said:
Looks complicated though I will try. Thank you very much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's really not.. you can find tutorials for all of this on my guide, some even with videos.

Great !
You have a great tutorial & help attitude. I didn't know anything about the android after using Desire for more than 1 years. I feel good & content that I have achieved something with the help of your tutorials & feedback.
With the help of your guide I was able to flash the rom. It is called cyanogen 7.1.
I flashed this stable version and worried that the latest won't work on my android.
It's very good but I am have big time problem since it has no market and not able to download anything since market can't be downloaded.
I had backup my original ROM . Now if I want to flash another ROM than do I need to do the same process with wipe out data ?
Do I need to backup this cyanogen also ?? What if I want to use my original ROM, in that case how to recover/restore my original ROM ? What are the others good ROM you suggest to flash ? I have no choices, nor I can choose. Cyanogen is good but that problem with market.
Lastly the root is there, will it remain if I flash another ROM?
Thank you for your wonderful guidance, feedback & tutorial. God bless.

drmg said:
Great !
You have a great tutorial & help attitude. I didn't know anything about the android after using Desire for more than 1 years. I feel good & content that I have achieved something with the help of your tutorials & feedback.
With the help of your guide I was able to flash the rom. It is called cyanogen 7.1.
I flashed this stable version and worried that the latest won't work on my android.
It's very good but I am have big time problem since it has no market and not able to download anything since market can't be downloaded.
I had backup my original ROM . Now if I want to flash another ROM than do I need to do the same process with wipe out data ?
Do I need to backup this cyanogen also ?? What if I want to use my original ROM, in that case how to recover/restore my original ROM ? What are the others good ROM you suggest to flash ? I have no choices, nor I can choose. Cyanogen is good but that problem with market.
Lastly the root is there, will it remain if I flash another ROM?
Thank you for your wonderful guidance, feedback & tutorial. God bless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, you don't need to backup when you're restoring your old ROM, however do a wipe whenever moving to another ROM (with backup or new flash).
The reason you don't have market and other google apps is because cyanogen is so big, google has disallowed them to include google apps with their ROMs, and they need to be flashed seperately, like I mentioned in the previous post.
Click the gapps link (from the previous post) and flash it the same way you did Cyanogen

Thanks.
You mean I need to flash google market as well like a cyanogen or I can install it or with the android flasher?
BTW, what is gapps link ? Thanks..

drmg said:
Thanks.
You mean I need to flash google market as well like a cyanogen or I can install it or with the android flasher?
BTW, what is gapps link ? Thanks..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh my bad I got confused with another post, link wasn't there.
gapps - Google Apps - Play store, gmail, setup wizard etc. etc.
You flash the gapps.zip like cyanogenmod - through recovery. This is only needed with Cyanogenmod, all* other ROMs have them.
http://goo.im/gapps/gapps-gb-20110828-signed.zip
*well most do at least, those that don't tell you.

Excellent. Market has finally worked. Thank you