I upgraded to an HTC Desire from an iPhone 3G, and was so disappointed when I switched on my Orange phone to find they had hacked around with the Firmware! Orange seemed to have installed :
- Game Demos (Monopoly, Bowling etc)
- Ringtones
-Altered Internet application (defaults to Orange World homepage)
- Altered Maps application
- Custom installed IM client (allegedly in order to charge for IMs)
- Not allowing GTalk!
I was so annoyed by these alterations and so should HTC and Google be too. Anyway, Here is how I flashed a generic version of HTC Desire Software on my desire :
**** I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY IF THE BELOW PROCESS DOES NOT WORK FOR YOU & IF YOU BRICK YOUR PHONE - DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK ****
What you need :
- MicroSD card with SD Adapter
Procedure :
1. You need to setup ADB on your PC and download the Android SDK, guide here:
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EDIT: Attention!!!
The above software might be too old. Get the latest one from here: http://shipped-roms.com/index.php?category=android&model=Bravo
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4. Insert the Goldcard into the Desire and connect it to your PC. Run the software downloaded in step 3.
5. This will flash your Desire with a generic HTC version of the OS.
6. Enjoy!
Last edited by Usta; June 2nd, 2011 at 05:30 AM.
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I think HTC are annoyed with them. Anyway to people reading this thread if you just want the GTalk app you can install it from here: Add Google Talk to Orange HTC Desire Nimbu
I tried to flash the standard rom to my phone yesterday and kept getting the dreaded error 131 - wrong customer ID message.
I created 4 different goldcards on different size and manufacturer microSD cards, even went out and bought a 2 GB Kingston card like the unlocker guide recomended. Tried with HTC Sync on, with it off, with my fingers crossed, sacrificed my neighbours chickens....nothing, the same error message
Hours later when I was about to give up, I realised that the only card I hadn't tried was the 4GB card that came installed on the phone from Orange.
Formatted it, then tried to make it into a goldcard which worked no problem. Stuck it in the phone, ran the RUU and expected it to fail like all the others.
IT WORKED
No idea why this card worked and the others didn't. I used the same .img file on them all, using the same method and software. I definately think you need HTC Sync installed to get the correct HTC drivers (or source them somewhere else), but why some cards work and others don't?????
Sorry for the long post, and try the card that came with your phone if you're an Orange customer.
Really don't know whether to do this or not. On the one hand I'd quite like an un-branded ROM but, on the other, I don't find the Orange stuff at all intrusive really.
How "risky" is this procedure? Is it possible to brick the device in any way?
The orange stuff didn't bother me so much either mate, but I was a bit bored and when I couldn't make it work it pissed me off so I kept trying different things until it did.
When each goldcard failed to work and I got the error message you have to exit out of the RUU. Each time my phone just restarted with the Orange ROM no problem. I'm sure it is possible to brick your phone but if you follow the instructions you minimise the risk. Just remember to back up your contacts, messages, whatever, if you use the microSD card in your phone.
Cheers. TBH I think I'll just leave it for now as I don't think there's really any point. Of course when updates start appearing them, if Orange drag their heels releasing their branded version then maybe I'll look again at going to a generic ROM
note - on the card formater select the full and erase format, takes a while.
Once the goldcard was made as per the instructions i put it in the phone where the phone told me the sd card was damaged but continue on and select htc sync option.
With the phone connected to htc sync i ran the installer.
After finding out you have to pay for the speed and traffic alerts on Orange maps, I flashed and now use Google maps, which is better but no speed camera alerts?!
Must say great guide and if you follow it step by step its easy. The phone is better without the orange junk on it. I got mine from phones 4 U so if it does become faulty I reckon they won't notice.
I tried to flash the standard rom to my phone yesterday and kept getting the dreaded error 131 - wrong customer ID message.
I created 4 different goldcards on different size and manufacturer microSD cards, even went out and bought a 2 GB Kingston card like the unlocker guide recomended. Tried with HTC Sync on, with it off, with my fingers crossed, sacrificed my neighbours chickens....nothing, the same error message
Hours later when I was about to give up, I realised that the only card I hadn't tried was the 4GB card that came installed on the phone from Orange.
Formatted it, then tried to make it into a goldcard which worked no problem. Stuck it in the phone, ran the RUU and expected it to fail like all the others.
IT WORKED
No idea why this card worked and the others didn't. I used the same .img file on them all, using the same method and software. I definately think you need HTC Sync installed to get the correct HTC drivers (or source them somewhere else), but why some cards work and others don't?????
Sorry for the long post, and try the card that came with your phone if you're an Orange customer.
after you did all this did you still have the sense ui???
If I debrand my T-Mobile UK Desire, will I get HTC official updates OTA as soon as they are released? Do HTC send these updates to all phones all over the world regardless of what network provider they're on?
1. The phone will be locked to orange. Will i need to unlock the phone to create a gold card?
2. Provided it all goes well i'll have an unbranded phone. I presume when i restart after unbranding i'll have to setup the network settings manually or will the phone pick them up from the sim?
1. The phone will be locked to orange. Will i need to unlock the phone to create a gold card?
2. Provided it all goes well i'll have an unbranded phone. I presume when i restart after unbranding i'll have to setup the network settings manually or will the phone pick them up from the sim?
1. network lock has nothing to do with goldcard or unbranding. you are just removing the orange crap by unbranding. your phone will still be locked to the orange network.
3.for me it set it self up. just had to do the normal stuff wifi, google account, facebook ect
1. network lock has nothing to do with goldcard or unbranding. you are just removing the orange crap by unbranding. your phone will still be locked to the orange network.
3.for me it set it self up. just had to do the normal stuff wifi, google account, facebook ect
You will lose everything on the phone so make sure you either back up what you don't want to lose or have a way of getting them back on the phone. Thank the lord for google contacts and exchange server is all I can say..
I also flashed an orange branded phone with no problems at all. Just be careful and follow the gold card instructions very carefully.
Thanks Stueyboy,
Does anyone know a link for the Orange branded software just in case I need to reload it to send the phone back for repair. I would imagine that debranding invalidates the warranty otherwise?
and when I put the commands it it comes up with system canot find path specified
any ideas how to solve this so I can sort out a goldcard
Also in device manager the phone doesnt show up only Android device and when I click on that it just say My HTC
any ideas
Last edited by slatyford; May 27th, 2010 at 01:42 PM.
Thanks for the guides, this seems to be a very good forum so I joined up (I usually avoid forums, but this seems worth it).
Hi!
I'm encountering a possibly strange problem trying to flash my Orange Desire. When running the RUU, the first time it goes through and restarts the Desire, but then it doesn't detect that it's restarted and 'Waiting for bootloader' times out with Error 171. The phone is still waiting there for the RUU to get back to it. I run it again, and this time the RUU manages to contact the Desire and starts doing the magic (Erasing user data, sending, creating signature) and then I get the dreaded 131 error.
I'm using the SD card that came with the phone (although I'll try another one when it arrives), both formatting from the phone and using SDFormatter. Using the phone there are always folders left when I check to see if it mounts, with SDFormatter there aren't, and the phone says the SD card is damaged (as described above).
I've double checked that the computer list the device as My HTC and is using the HTC driver. I rebooted the phone into the bootloader but I can't figure out how to see what driver it is using (so this may be the problem). However, HTC Sync works fine (which as far as I can see is simply an easy way of checking that both driver sets match).
It's really beginning to bug me, I've been trying this for two days and started from scratch a few times now, and everything goes smoothly until I actually try to flash the ROM.
Can anyone offer any pointers? I can't find anything else searching on the intertubes.
Worked perfectly for me up until the update installer rebooted the phone into the bootloader. At this point, it hung with a "Waiting for bootloader" message while the phone stayed at a dark screen with the HTC logo. Disconnecting the USB cable dropped me into the Android bootloader (a white screen with some skateboarding robots and tiny text).
I tried a few different things to try and get it working again, but the one which finally seemed to have an effect for me was the following:
Make sure the phone is powered on and plugged into the PC (if it's hung at the bootloader, reboot it by removing the battery).
Open a command window and navigate to the tools directory of the Android SDK (I unzipped it to C:\AndroidSDK, so this would be C:\AndroidSDK\tools ).
Type 'adb devices' to check that USB debugging is enabled and the phone is recognised. Now type 'adb reboot bootloader' to manually reboot the device into the bootloader - it should show a white screen with skating androids and some text.
Once this screen is showing, run the HTC updater. It will reboot the phone again itself, but in my case, the phone managed to get past the initial bootloader and begin flashing the phone.
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Now type 'adb reboot bootloader' to manually reboot the device into the bootloader - it should show a white screen with skating androids and some text.
Once this screen is showing, run the HTC updater. It will reboot the phone again itself, but in my case, the phone managed to get past the initial bootloader and begin flashing the phone.
That worked a treat to get rid of the 171 error, but I'm still getting the 131. I'm going to try a second SD card later, it's the only thing I can think of to try, but I'd rather not given I will never have another need for it :-(
My personal opinion is that, its going to be a real pain having to re-flash my phone everytime there is an update. My next flash will probably be to Froyo.
I will post back here the results!
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hi guys. i recieved my orange htc desire yesterday only to find exactly what is described here. I'm not the kind of person to just put up with it so i followed your guide and i've got everything ready to flash my phone, i had a bit of trouble finding the right code from the cmd prompt thing but i think i've got it now. I just have a few questions before i do.
1. As i understand you recieve updates via OTA? what does this mean exactly?
2. Will 3G internet still work?
3. The file in the previous post is definately the most up to date version?
4. And what you say about the wifi not working when you update? how often do they release updates that reflashing would be needed?
I'm totally new to all this so sorry if i'm being over cautious.
I'm gonna call orange tomorrow and see if i can return and get something sorted out through carphone warehous, i dunno if thats even possible..
Ok, this is doing my head in now. Just bought a 2GB Kingston, which I've been told other people have got working, and it didn't! Still getting Error 131. I am so frustrated!
Please can anyone help? Do I have to factory reset or something? What's going on?
Ok i went ahead and did it. I was pleasantly surprised because it worked first time! So thanks for the help, I am much happier with my nice new unbranded desire.
A few more questions.
-Can I just upgrade safely to Froya via the OTA messages? (i know what it means now)
-If not is there a version of the new Froyo rom out anywhere?
-If so can I just do exactly what I did before with the same goldcard?
I have version 1.15.405.3 installed btw.
Last edited by rabidmonk; June 14th, 2010 at 12:55 PM.
The procedure that was posted originally, will not effect WiFi, 3G or anything else.
What to watch out for, is after doing the procedure and the Over the Air (OTA) Update may be pushed to your phone by your network, or by manually "Checking Now" in the System Update option within the Settings (About section).
Its only when the update is installed that I started getting problems, but I just followed my own guide above with the updated ROM (found on XDA Developers) and I was away again.
The procedure that was posted originally, will not effect WiFi, 3G or anything else.
What to watch out for, is after doing the procedure and the Over the Air (OTA) Update may be pushed to your phone by your network, or by manually "Checking Now" in the System Update option within the Settings (About section).
Its only when the update is installed that I started getting problems, but I just followed my own guide above with the updated ROM (found on XDA Developers) and I was away again.
Hope this helps.
So I take it you used 1.21.405.2? And wasn't that the one causing some problems on Orange handsets..?
I manually chose to update to 1.21 from the phone's menu - BAD IDEA! That is what caused my WiFi problem.
Stick to flashing the 1.15 as noted in my first post if you want to be safe. i did eventually get the 1.21 on the phone, but flashed it using the same method as above. Beware with this though, it may lock the network on your phone - It locked mine and I paid a $15 fee for an unlock code. To avoid this I could have downgraded the Radio version, but thought it is useful to have an unlock code for the future.
Hope this helps.
Again, I take no responsibility if you BRICK your phone. Do all this AT YOUR OWN RISK!
See what you mean - but because I flashed mine with a generic HTC ROM, i could only assume that it was HTC making that 1.21 update available when Orange were not ready for it! A few folks over at the 1.21 OTA post have said that no update is available on their Orange branded Desires.
I can see your point in not buying an unlock code, as if I bought a Desire that was not tied to a network - I wouldn't buy a code either, so in theory, you should be fine.
Hi all, just a quick question regarding this gold card stuff.
Once i have created the gold card, does that card then stay in the phone? what i mean is, i have a 4 G SD in my phone (that came with it) But i have also got an 8 Gig class 6 that i will be using for my phone, so if i create the gold card with the 4 Gig card can i then take that out and use my 8G class 6 card? Does that make sense to everyone? I'm really dubious about doing this, but i really need to as i want the 2.2 update as soon as i can, iv been told it could be months before Orange release froyo so am i right in assuming that once the gold card is used and the phone is unbranded, i can then insert my new SD card?
Basically, the Goldcard allows you to Flash your phone with the Generic OS. Once your phone has rebooted and you have confirmed that everything is working properly, you can switch the phone off and replace your Goldcard with your 8gb one.
Keep the goldcard if you can - you will need it again if you want to flash a generic version of Froyo if the Over The Air (OTA) update doesn't work.
Remember, it may be some time before HTC even release froyo with all the necessary SenseUI alterations, but allegedly, HTC have had a FROYO since the beginning of June, so it could be soon - no one knows for sure. But either way, it will be quicker than Orange!
Basically, the Goldcard allows you to Flash your phone with the Generic OS. Once your phone has rebooted and you have confirmed that everything is working properly, you can switch the phone off and replace your Goldcard with your 8gb one.
Keep the goldcard if you can - you will need it again if you want to flash a generic version of Froyo if the Over The Air (OTA) update doesn't work.
Remember, it may be some time before HTC even release froyo with all the necessary SenseUI alterations, but allegedly, HTC have had a FROYO since the beginning of June, so it could be soon - no one knows for sure. But either way, it will be quicker than Orange!
Good luck.
Thank you, it would be nice if HTC came out and gave a clear idea as to when certain handsets will be updated with froyo, but i suppose that is too easy for them!! Personally, i think they have been waiting for Ap*le to release their efforts in iOS4 before releasing 2.2, not wanting to be upstaged in the whole iPhone love in. I was an iPhone owner up until a month or two ago, now i will never own another A*ple product in my life, android is the future of mobile technology
The beauty with this guide, is that if you keep an eye on the Generic ROMS that are posted on XDA Developers, you may find FROYO will appear there before HTC release it....it would need to be fully working of course before I would do it.
I too was an iphone owner up until March, I like their products, but they are getting too expensive (look at the price of the new Mac Mini) and common! Plus I wanted a change...Android and HTC certainly gave me that.
cd\
cd AndroidSDK\tools\
adb devices
You should see a serial number pop up, it’s the serial number of your phone. This means you are all set.
But i dont get any serial number showing up? it says if this happens then install the drivers manually, but they dont have a link for the desire? bloody hell, i cant even get past the first step!!
Worked perfectly for me up until the update installer rebooted the phone into the bootloader. At this point, it hung with a "Waiting for bootloader" message while the phone stayed at a dark screen with the HTC logo. Disconnecting the USB cable dropped me into the Android bootloader (a white screen with some skateboarding robots and tiny text).
I tried a few different things to try and get it working again, but the one which finally seemed to have an effect for me was the following:
Make sure the phone is powered on and plugged into the PC (if it's hung at the bootloader, reboot it by removing the battery).
Open a command window and navigate to the tools directory of the Android SDK (I unzipped it to C:\AndroidSDK, so this would be C:\AndroidSDK\tools ).
Type 'adb devices' to check that USB debugging is enabled and the phone is recognised. Now type 'adb reboot bootloader' to manually reboot the device into the bootloader - it should show a white screen with skating androids and some text.
Once this screen is showing, run the HTC updater. It will reboot the phone again itself, but in my case, the phone managed to get past the initial bootloader and begin flashing the phone.
im getting adb server out of date could this be what is causing error 131 ?
hello. Totally new to these forums. I just bought an htc desire from orange. But i hate all the crap they have stuffed in it. I want to debrand my phone but i want to flash it to the latest version 2.2. How do i go about doing that? And i want the end result to be error free. I know its asking alot but is it possible?
Thanks
How to Flash / Debrand your Desire
