Root Guide to flashing your Orange San Francisco / ZTE Blade with a custom ROM

[BurnCK]

Simple Guide to Flashing your Orange San Francisco / ZTE Blade
===========================================

Please note that this guide may now be out of date. I will attempt to update the information at some point soon.

Please note that, for now, this will only work with older models of Orange San Francisco with the OLED screen. If you have a TFT screen, do not flash your phone with this ROM.

To Check go to Settings > About Phone > Build

OLED Screens have Android build B05 whereas TFT Screens have build B08

OK, to save you all the hassle of downloading the Software / ROM from various posts over at MoDaCo, I have zipped them all and uploaded them to file sharing sites so simply pick one of the following links to download.

http://rapidshare.com/files/434657709/SanFrancisco.zip

MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service

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Zip file contains the following files :

ZTE Blade Drivers - Win7.zip
ZTE Blade Drivers - XP.zip
ZTE Blade Drivers - Vista.zip
Fastboot.zip
Update.zip (ROM) - This is Sebastians404 De-Orangeated ROM R6 (FAT version) from MoDaCo forums
recovery-clockwork-2.5.0.9-modaco-r2-blade.img

All credit for the files and following information goes to the guys over at MoDaCo forums...I have just tried to simply the process for you all.


Although this is a fairly simple procedure to follow (which many users have done successfully), please note that flashing a custom ROM is done entirely at your own risk.

1) Firstly you'll need to extract and install the relevant ZTE Blade drivers for your version of windows. Included in the SanFrancisco.zip file are Win XP, Win Vista and Win 7 drivers.
(On XP you are prompted to install the drivers when you plug your phone in so just point it towards the directory where you unzipped the XP drivers. I'm not sure if you are prompted on other versions of Windows because I did it from my works Win XP laptop. I will try it on my Win 7 Desktop at home later to see if that also prompts).

2) Next extract the files in the Fastboot.zip to a folder on your desktop (name the folder 'fastboot')

3) Copy the file 'recovery-clockwork-2.5.0.9-modaco-r2-blade.img' to the same desktop folder that you extracted Fastboot to.

4) Turn off your phone and take out the battery for a few seconds. Replace the battery and turn your phone back on whilst holding the 'Volume up' button. Your phone should show a Green Android logo and then remain on that screen.

5) Plug your phone into your PC (at this point install drivers if your PC prompts you).

6) Open up a command prompt (Select Start Menu, Run and then type 'CMD' and enter).

7) Make sure CMD is pointing at the fastboot folder you created on your desktop (i.e. on XP mine would be 'C:\Documents and Settings\thoml_\Desktop\Fastboot). If not change it as I have done below (remember to use your own windows username ).

8) Next, type 'fastboot-windows flash recovery recovery-clockwork-2.5.0.9-modaco-r2-blade.img' and enter.

(If you're using a Mac or Linux then simply replace 'fastboot-windows' with either 'fastboot-mac' or 'fastboot-linux').

9) Once that process shows as completed type 'fastboot-windows reboot'

10) Let your phone reboot back to it's normal homescreen.

11) Copy the file 'update.zip' across to the root of the SD card on your phone.

12) Turn your phone off and remove the battery for a few seconds. Replace the battery and turn your phone back on whilst this time holding 'Volume down'. Your phone will show the Green Android logo again but this time after a few seconds it will load ClockworkMod Recovery (the screen will be upside down but don't worry about this).

13) Select 'apply Update.zip' option and then confirm that you want to apply it. (Use the Volume Up/Down buttons to navigate the menu and the Home button as enter).

14) ClockworkMod Recovery will begin to flash the phone (you'll see the progress on screen). Once completed, select the reboot option from the menu.

15) DONE !! You may now delete update.zip from your SD card, and enjoy your Orange free phone

 

[Deleted User]

I have to ask is this completely reversable if you havent backed up your phone first?

Just in case I decide to change my mind!!

 

[Deleted User]

In fact scratch that I dont think I will be changing my mind this is fecking fantastic!! So so quick now whereas before it was sluggish!!

 

[BurnCK]

In fact scratch that I dont think I will be changing my mind this is fecking fantastic!! So so quick now whereas before it was sluggish!!

Well, if for some reason you did change your mind I can point you in the direction of the original Orange ROM. Then it's just a case of copying it to your SD card and using ClockworkMod Recovery to flash your phone again....

 

[Deleted User]

You may be able to help..... The only orange widget I found useful was the SMS message display so when one comes in it shows in the display until its read.

Is there any way we could maybe take that particular widget and add/install it from an apk file?

Best JRG

 

[BurnCK]

I know there are other ROMs on MoCaDo forums that still contain some of the Orange apps, not sure about an actual .apk file for it though.

As an alternative you could use either ChompSMS or Handcent apps that are available on the Market. They both have widgets that show messages in the same way.

 

[Deleted User]

Il have a look! Thank you very much for your advice throughout this process, my phone is 100% faster than before, Its like an htc handset now!!

 

[Deleted User]

So have I rooted my phone? sounds like a daft question I know! but as I see it ive just installed a modified OS?

 

[miguelgr]

so i did this proccess and now the phone wont start.it just frozes at the android logo.what's wrong and what can i do about it?:/

 

[Deleted User]

Mine did this the first boot felt like an age.....leave it a little longer and it will boot.

I had a heart attack coz it force closed several times but now its stable and bloody fantastic, still dont really know if what I did has actually rooted the phone!??!?

Anyway it will be ok im sure

 

[CDM]

Just brought one of these phones for my son for Xmas & decided de-branding was a good idea.
I followed your excellent guide & everything seems to be fine, that is except for one strange issue, once you put the phone to sleep with the power button it

 

[squitten]

Just brought one of these phones for my son for Xmas & decided de-branding was a good idea.
I followed your excellent guide & everything seems to be fine, that is except for one strange issue, once you put the phone to sleep with the power button it

 

[miguelgr]

Mine did this the first boot felt like an age.....leave it a little longer and it will boot.

I had a heart attack coz it force closed several times but now its stable and bloody fantastic, still dont really know if what I did has actually rooted the phone!??!?

Anyway it will be ok im sure

i left it like 20 minutes and still no progress.stucked on android logo and every 15-20 secs the logo is flashing but still not booting.any suggestions?

 

[squitten]

Help!! The same has happened to mine, also everything is shown in different colours & aeroplane mode keeps coming up!

I managed to turn off aeroplane mode but everything is still in different colours & display still keeps disapearing!

If there's no way of sorting it out is there a way to change it back to orange?

thanks
Squitten

 

[CDM]

Just brought one of these phones for my son for Xmas & decided de-branding was a good idea.
I followed your excellent guide & everything seems to be fine, that is except for one strange issue, once you put the phone to sleep with the power button it

 

[BurnCK]

I presume you can all still get in ClockworkMod Recovery ? Turn off your phone, remove the battery for a few sec and replace. Turn your phone on holding the volume down button.

If you can then you can re-flash your phone again no probs, so don't worry.

Apparently Orange have change the screen type on the new batch of phones which is what's causing the problem. I've just read a post about it on MoDaCo forums.
People on there have simply changed to a different custom ROM or gone back to the stock Orange ROM and it's been fine again.

Give me a short while and will find out which alternative ROMs people are using....or try and source the original ROM for that particular model.

 

[BurnCK]

Further to my post yesterday, I have now discovered that the majority of these ROM images that are being posted don

 

[bogstandard]

"Now scroll down to Flash Zip From SD card option and select the Update.ZIP file you placed earlier in SD Card root"

Where is the rout on the SD card? Does one just drag the operating system (2.2/2.1) on to the card amongst the other files - or insert it into a file?

I have a TFT and though I have not as yet changed the OS I have the freezing probs. as stated above
Many thanks

 

[BurnCK]

If you're having issues with screen colour and power button not working then the original Orange ROM for TFT screen can be found here (make sure you download the TFT version) :

[OLED+TFT] 06/Dec: Stock ROM downloads + Online Kitchen - Android @ MoDaCo

Simply rename the downloaded file as update.zip and copy it to your SD card. Then re-flash your phone using ClockworkMod Recovery.

If you are going to flash back to the original Orange ROM then make sure you select 'wipe data / factory reset' option in ClockworkMod Recovery BEFORE you 'apply update.zip'.

Apparently, there will be an updated custom ROM for TFT screens within the next week.

 

[BurnCK]

"Now scroll down to Flash Zip From SD card option and select the Update.ZIP file you placed earlier in SD Card root"

Where is the rout on the SD card? Does one just drag the operating system (2.2/2.1) on to the card amongst the other files - or insert it into a file?

I have a TFT and though I have not as yet changed the OS I have the freezing probs. as stated above
Many thanks

The root is the top level directory on the card. So typically when you browse the SD card it will be the first directory you are in. Just copy the update.zip ROM file to that directory.

 

[bogstandard]

"Now scroll down to Flash Zip From SD card option and select the Update.ZIP file you placed earlier in SD Card root"

Where is the rout on the SD card? Does one just drag the operating system (2.2/2.1) on to the card amongst the other files - or insert it into a file?

I have a TFT and though I have not as yet changed the OS I have the freezing probs. as stated above
Many thanks

My SD card is showing as follows:
Android
DCIM
LOST.DIR
z7logs
Should i drop it into the Android? (they appear alphabetically arranged) Or just drop it in with all the others?
I assume that whatever rom one installs it is renamed to update.zip
Many thanks

 

[BurnCK]

My SD card is showing as follows:
Android
DCIM
LOST.DIR
z7logs
Should i drop it into the Android? (they appear alphabetically arranged) Or just drop it in with all the others?
I assume that whatever rom one installs it is renamed to update.zip
Many thanks

No, don't put it in any of the folders, just place it in the same directory along side those folders....and yes whatever ROM it is needs to be renamed to update.zip

 

[bogstandard]

Many thanks again BurnCK
I may have 4xed something having put the boot.blade.superboot.mcri.r3 on.
and I have the 2.5.1.3 Is it possible to just install 2.5.0.9 over the 2.5.1.3 or indeed worth the risk.
I am using Windows 7 64bit and have been pressing the shift key whilst right clicking the file and then choosing "open command window here" is this a satisfactory method as against the more complexed CDM etc?

 

[BurnCK]

Yes, I also originally installed Superboot and then 2.5.1.3 on my phone and it didn't work, so I installed 2.5.0.9 over it. So if I was you I'd do the same and install 2.5.0.9 instead. Just follow the original procedure but with the 2.5.0.9 img file

Also, yes you can open command prompt that way...infact, that's probably the easiest way to do it Don't know why I didn't include that method in my guide.

 

[bogstandard]

Many thanks BurnCK for all the help. Have now installed 2.5.0.9 and also MoDaCo Custom Froyo A3. Have to see how everything goes. It's all new to me finding my way around.