A guide on how I debranded my Vodafone Desire to get 2.2 quicker.
EDIT2: PEOPLE ARE NOW (AS OF 04/08) REPORTING THAT AFTER DEBRANDING THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE 2.2 UPDATE. IT SEEMS THAT HTC 'MAY' HAVE STOPPED ROLLING IT OUT ! IF SO, AND YOU STILL WANT TO INSTALL 2.2, FOLLOW EVIL GENIUS' LINK ON POST #48 TO MANUALLY INSTALL.
EDIT1: IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROCEDURE WILL NOT WORK IF YOU HAVE UPDATED THE PHONE WITH THE RECENT VODAFONE UPGRADE (1.124 I BELIEVE)
So as expected I got too impatient to wait for Vodafone to officially launch 2.2 so I bit the bullet, debranded the handset and got the update.
Im glad I did as I understand that Vodafone have just rolled out a sneaky update loading the handset with rubbish.
Thought I would share the experience with my fellow Vodafone users including the guide that I used in order to complete the installation.
This turned out to be a very easy process which took around an hour from start to finish inc the 2.2 update and restoring apps etc.
PLEASE READ THIS FULLY BEFORE STARTING THE PROCEDURE
Worked a treat on my handset but as with all these things I can't accept any responsibility for any loss or damage that may occur if you decide to go down the same route that I did.
Also please be aware that debranding your handset may invalidate the warranty should anything go wrong. Im not sure whether its possible once 2.2 has been installed to revert back to the old Vodafone Rom (should the phone need to go back to Vodafone for example) so please bear that in mind.
So, in simple terms I uninstalled the original vodafone Rom (operating system) from the phone and reflashed (re-installed) a generic HTC Rom (one that isn't operator specific). After this install I manually checked for updates on the handset and was prompted to update to Android 2.2. Which of course I did I re-installed my backed up data and everything's good.
So here's how I did it.
1, I already had a copy of an app called mybackup pro (available in the market) and I used this to make a backup on my Micro SD card and on their internet server of all my data and apps. I think this app has a 30 day trial, if so you can use it for the this process then uninstall without buying it.
2, I then copied the contents of my Micro SD card to a folder on my PC as an extra backup but haven't needed it.
THE UPDATE WILL WIPE ALL DATA FROM THE HANDSET SO MAKE SURE YOU BACK UP.
3, I noted down all the APN settings from the phone as an additional precaution but again didn't need them. MENU - SETTINGS - WIRELESS & NETWORKS - MOBILE NETWORKS - ACCESS POINT NAMES - VODAFONE.
4, I then followed this guide to create a gold card and reflash the handset but with one major difference, I used a different Rom to the one that's linked to on section 1 of the debranding procedure because Id read of people having problems with the one listed:
* I used a separate Micro SD Card to create my Gold Card (mine was a Kingston 2GB card) but the guide explains how to use the one from your desire. If using the same card you must make a copy of it on your PC first as you have to reformat to FAT32.
* Check the requirements at the top of the guide regarding installing HTC sync. I didn't have this installed on my PC prior to the reflash, its in a folder on the SD card that came with your phone so connect that to your PC and install it before starting.
* You only need to do the first 2 sections of the guide 'creating the gold card' and the 'debranding procedure' The last section is about unlocking the phone and isn't relevant for this procedure.
5, When you run the new downloaded Rom it comes up with an installer on your PC, its all pretty straight forward and simply a matter of pressing Next each time.
6, Once the reflash is complete the phone will have rebooted and you will now have a working generic HTC Rom on your phone. It should prompt you to select what Network you are on (in my case Vodafone Post Pay) and then guide you through the start up wizard. At this point leave the gold card in the phone.
7, Make sure your WiFi is set up and switched on on the handset and go check for updates. MENU - SETTINGS - ABOUT PHONE - SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATES - CHECK NOW. You should be prompted to upgrade to Android 2.2.
8, Click to download and install the upgrade and Bobs your uncle, you will now have an unbranded Desire running on Vodafone with Android 2.2
YOU CAN NOW REMOVE THE GOLD CARD AND EITHER PUT IN YOUR ORIGINAL SD CARD OR IF YOU USED THE SAME CARD COPY THE DATA BACK TO IT THAT YOU BACKED UP AT THE BEGINNING.
Restoring data and Apps
After the install I had to re-install Mybackup Pro and select 'restore' to re-install all my data and apps.
Some of my apps also showed up in the market under 'downloads' so I could re-install or update from there. Google maps for example required an update to the latest level.
I also had some apps that were stored as APK files on my SD card To re-install those I simply re-downloaded Astro File manager from the App store, located the Apps through that on the phone and re-installed the APKs.
Easy as that.
Im a complete Android noob and although Ive tinkered with other phones (sort of rooted my old Nokia N95 8GB) I don't have a lot of experience with this type of thing, but to be fair this process wasn't must different to the official upgrade procedure that you had to go through with Nokia !
Hope this helps if you are using a branded phone and wish to debrand in order to get 2.2.
Thanks.
Bully.
Last edited by Bully74uk; August 4th, 2010 at 11:06 AM.
Reason: Add info on people not being prompted to upgrade to 2.2
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lovely, one question, when all this is done, am i correct in saying its no longer rooted, ie can i just put on a different rom if i choose from here-after ?
lovely, one question, when all this is done, am i correct in saying its no longer rooted, ie can i just put on a different rom if i choose from here-after ?
You need to root your phone to be able to put different roms on it, if you debrand & get the OTA froyo You will lose the ability to root or debrand.
__________________
To ere is human to foul things up completely requires a computer
lovely, one question, when all this is done, am i correct in saying its no longer rooted, ie can i just put on a different rom if i choose from here-after ?
Im not sure about the Roms on XDA Developers for example, the ones that have been tinkered with. I think they require your phone to be rooted.
I don't believe this procedure roots your phone, it simply allows you to switch from one standard Rom to another.
As I mentioned above im an android noob so maybe one of the more experienced members will be able to confirm.
if you debrand & get the OTA froyo You will lose the ability to root or debrand.
I understand you may lose the ability to root after the OTA to 2.2 but what do you mean about losing the ability to debrand. Are you saying that now ive gone to 2.2 I can't use the goldcard again to go back to another generic Rom ? Back to the old one for example ? I was under the impression I could
I understand you may lose the ability to root after the OTA to 2.2 but what do you mean about losing the ability to debrand. Are you saying that now ive gone to 2.2 I can't use the goldcard again to go back to another generic Rom ? Back to the old one for example ? I was under the impression I could
If you look on this thread i got the details from xda regarding OTA froyo blocking all attempts to change anything.
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QWell I've got as far as making the goldcard and got to the "are you sure" prompt about the update - dont have the time to do it now, but all seems OK so far!
Device(s): HTC Desire, Samsung Omnia, Nokia E65, Orange SPV
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glenmcfar
Didn't work for me. I'm getting
ERROR (131): Customer ID Error
and
"The ROM update utility cannot update your android phone, please get the correct ROM update and try again
I think this is something to do with the Goldcard mate, but it could also "possibly" be your bootloader version. mine was 0.80 but some desires afaik have 0.75 bootloaders.
Device(s): HTC Desire, Samsung Omnia, Nokia E65, Orange SPV
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glenmcfar
I've also got this gadgy 1.124 update today, which is why i'm here...
Ahh.. the update.. I've read that debranding wont work if you've downloaded the update until a crack is found for the HBoot, I was lucky and was at work when the OTA came out and read all about it, so I cancelled it when it came up and debranded. Sorry I can't be of anymore help mate .
Ahh.. the update.. I've read that debranding wont work if you've downloaded the update until a crack is found for the HBoot, I was lucky and was at work when the OTA came out and read all about it, so I cancelled it when it came up and debranded. Sorry I can't be of anymore help mate .
So if you downloaded the vodafone update then you can't debrand. That's twice I have read that in the space of half an hour on 2 different forums.
One other thing, did you recently (in the last day or so) do an update ? the one that vodafone has sneeked in which loads some extra branding on the phone ? If so I believe the update changes the bootloader version which may also cause an issue.
EDIT: Just read your later post and see that you have done the update. I think this is likely to be causing the problem. Septian beat me to it
Last edited by Bully74uk; August 3rd, 2010 at 05:15 PM.
So if you downloaded the vodafone update then you can't debrand. That's twice I have read that in the space of half an hour on 2 different forums.
Im afraid that's probably the case.
Have you updated ? If so can you post back with your bootloader version ? This is how to obtain it:
How to check bootloader version of HTC Desire:
Switch off the device. Turn it on whilst holding the ‘back’ key. You should be able to see the text ‘HBOOT’, and a version number besides it. This number is the bootloader version.
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Have you updated ? If so can you post back with your bootloader version ? This is how to obtain it:
How to check bootloader version of HTC Desire:
Switch off the device. Turn it on whilst holding the ‘back’ key. You should be able to see the text ‘HBOOT’, and a version number besides it. This number is the bootloader version.
Thanks for the quick response.
It is:
0.80.0000
I used a ROM which was stated from xda that it should work with 0.80 bootloader, but it doesnt. It says it can't be updated at this time.
I'm a bit miffed that I can't upgrade. I could have done this this morning happily, but now I'm gonna have to wait for a genius or an official Vodafone update.
But, quick reality check.... I'm amazed people are complaining that their Vodafone-bought phones on the Vodafone network are now Vodafone branded. Has no-one ever had a Vodafone phone before? We were lucky to get away with it this long...
I've been on vodafone for years and they have always been branded but it's the fact that they have pre loaded apps and some weird thing called "flirt" something or other (which luckily I did not download fully)
Plus now it appears we are locked into the current software version and HAVE TO wait for them to release FroYo.
I feel extremely lucky and pi$$ed off at the same time for those who may not be able to debrand after installing Vodafones laest update.
I only decided to debrand at lunchtime today. Only yesterday I checked whether there were any updates available for my handset, had I done the same this morning and been prompted with the latest update I would have definitely installed it.
A very sneaky move by Vodafone me thinks. They will know that a lot of people are constantly checking their handsets for updates.
Bully74uk, thanks for posting your guide, but are you sure you were on 1.24.161? I ask because that is the version i am on and i have tried so every guide i can find and it is impossible to flash any rom to my handset!
Its odd that you lot have bootloader 0.80, mine is 0.83!
Thanks a lot for this post, luckily I saw it before I installed the vodafone update today.
Have followed the instructions (which were surprisingly easy!) and now running 2.2
As you said took me about an hour all up with reconfiguration/backups etc.
Same for me, now won't boot. Any ideas as to what I can do to get it working again? Really hope I haven't bricked my phone
At what point did the procedure fail ?
Did you create the gold card ok (did you get the message box saying 'you have now created a gold card' ?
Did it fail during the reflash procedure ? if so did you follow the procedure exactly ie switching off auto standby or hibernate on your PC (if it was switched on) ?
Bully74uk, thanks for posting your guide, but are you sure you were on 1.24.161? I ask because that is the version i am on and i have tried so every guide i can find and it is impossible to flash any rom to my handset!
Its odd that you lot have bootloader 0.80, mine is 0.83!
Hi Stanny
My software version was 2.1 update 1 - 1.19.161.5
Bootloader was 0.80
Looks like you have a later version installed, is your phone extremely new or did you install an update ?
Most Vodafone branded handsets were shipped with 0.80 I believe but maybe yours was supplied with the newer one thats currently not debrandable !
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Hi guys,
I got the nasty new firmware from Voda (1.24.161.3) and am on bootloader 0.80.000
When trying the debrand i got as far as the:
You are on firmware 1.24.161.3
New firmware will be x.xx.xxx.x (whatever it was)
Are you sure you wish to continue......
I clicked out of it at this point as I had to go out. Will the reflash then fail at this point?
Hi guys,
I got the nasty new firmware from Voda (1.24.161.3) and am on bootloader 0.80.000
When trying the debrand i got as far as the:
You are on firmware 1.24.161.3
New firmware will be x.xx.xxx.x (whatever it was)
Are you sure you wish to continue......
I clicked out of it at this point as I had to go out. Will the reflash then fail at this point?
I would imagine that it won't install the update however there seems to be some confusion as to whether vodafones sneaky update changes the bootloader or not. In your case it seems it hasn't but even so im sure there are others with the same level of firmware and bootloader as you who have not been able to reflash.
I was just gonna wait till Vodafone released 2.2, but when I saw they'd made the latest update shove their branding all over the Desire they forced my hand.
Very happy, everything went smoothly and now I have 2.2
I bought my HTC Desire factory sealed/new on Ebay a few months back and it was unlocked, I knew it was an unwanted contract upgrade. But there was no real evidence of it being bought from Vodafone - apart from one option: there was a "Vodafone" option the themes - not so bad I thought.
So yesterday I saw the ~19Mb update and thought it can't be Froyo at that small size. The blurb was a load of bs: "system stability and performance improvements" - I checked here and XDA (and luckily I did) and saw people said VF added all their branding to it and it can't be removed - hell, I'm using this phone on T-Mobile too :P
I should point out people are very angry, and rightly so. I am disgusted with VF for stating from the start that the Desire was coming out through them brand-free "just what the consumer wants"
Quote:
Originally Posted by VF Forums
I too liked the idea of the non-branded handset, and it was one of the draws to me getting it from Vodafone.
So Froyo has no chance of coming through from VF without going through their official bloatware route. More so, I am on T-Mobile so I don't want to update and have my phone locked to VF, so this guide is just what I need! Thanks very much!
I have a couple of questions prior to the debranding process:
1) What advantage is using mybackup pro to just copying the contents of SD card to the PC and then moving them back?
2) Do I keep all contacts (+info), sms messages if I take a full copy of my SD card? Or are they on internal phone memory? If so, how do I keep these?
3) After loading the new ROM, will all future updates be the vanilla/stock updates, regardless of the network?
P.S: VF have lost one potential customer when I shop around (when my contract ends with T-Mobile) due to their sneaky tricks.
I bought my HTC Desire factory sealed/new on Ebay a few months back and it was unlocked, I knew it was an unwanted contract upgrade. But there was no real evidence of it being bought from Vodafone - apart from one option: there was a "Vodafone" option the themes - not so bad I thought.
So yesterday I saw the ~19Mb update and thought it can't be Froyo at that small size. The blurb was a load of bs: "system stability and performance improvements" - I checked here and XDA (and luckily I did) and saw people said VF added all their branding to it and it can't be removed - hell, I'm using this phone on T-Mobile too :P
I should point out people are very angry, and rightly so. I am disgusted with VF for stating from the start that the Desire was coming out through them brand-free "just what the consumer wants"
So Froyo has no chance of coming through from VF without going through their official bloatware route. More so, I am on T-Mobile so I don't want to update and have my phone locked to VF, so this guide is just what I need! Thanks very much!
I have a couple of questions prior to the debranding process:
1) What advantage is using mybackup pro to just copying the contents of SD card to the PC and then moving them back?
2) Do I keep all contacts (+info), sms messages if I take a full copy of my SD card? Or are they on internal phone memory? If so, how do I keep these?
3) After loading the new ROM, will all future updates be the vanilla/stock updates, regardless of the network?
P.S: VF have lost one potential customer when I shop around (when my contract ends with T-Mobile) due to their sneaky tricks.
1 + 2, I think question 2 answers question 1. MyBackup pro saves all the phone data, texts, conatcts etc and restores them accordingly. Im not sure whether or not you can achieve this by simply copying the contents of your SD Card. I did both but only ended up restoring through MyBackup.
If there is no trial option of MyBackup Pro on the Market give me a shout via PM.
3, I believe you will get the official non branded updates OTA from HTC as and when they appear.
Hope this helps.
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I have followed this guide and it worked fine except I have no 2.2 update available.
I flashed my desire and I now have software 1.21.405.2 yet if I goto check for software updates it says "your phone is up to date"
1 + 2, I think question 2 answers question 1. MyBackup pro saves all the phone data, texts, conatcts etc and restores them accordingly. Im not sure whether or not you can achieve this by simply copying the contents of your SD Card. I did both but only ended up restoring through MyBackup.
Ok, I see what you mean - I hadn't looked at it on the market but it's here and I see what you mean - a 'full' backup.
I have followed this guide and it worked fine except I have no 2.2 update available.
I flashed my desire and I now have software 1.21.405.2 yet if I goto check for software updates it says "your phone is up to date"
Any ideas?
Thats very strange. When I did it, and im sure others will have been the same, the update was there immediately upon the first check.
Maybe for some reason HTC have temporarily stopped rolling out the upgrade, server down maybe ?
I would keep trying, ive just checked over at XDA and can't see anything blatant in the forum to suggest there is a problem updating.
You did keep the gold card in to check for updates ?
Ok, I see what you mean - I hadn't looked at it on the market but it's here and I see what you mean - a 'full' backup.
Will follow through your guide now.
Many thanks.
As your phone will be wiped after the reflash, If I remember correctly after you have installed the 2.2 update you need to go into the market, select downloads and you can re-install Mybackup pro. After that open it, select restore, click what you want restored and you should then be good to go. I had to re-launch certain programs that had widgets etc after the restore but soon had everything back to normal.
Oh and, when it restored all my contacts it saved them as google contacts where I previously had them as phone contacts so if you have the same set up as me then you will need to swap them back over by exporting them from google to SD card and then back from SD card to phone (deleting the google contacts after to save duplicates)
Great guide, just because I like to know how to reverse any changes I made, and in case the thing needs to go back to vodafone for some reason, how would I revert to a Vodafone ROM, and where would i get that ROM from?
I have followed this guide and it worked fine except I have no 2.2 update available.
I flashed my desire and I now have software 1.21.405.2 yet if I goto check for software updates it says "your phone is up to date"
Thats very strange. When I did it, and im sure others will have been the same, the update was there immediately upon the first check.
Maybe for some reason HTC have temporarily stopped rolling out the upgrade, server down maybe ?
I would keep trying, ive just checked over at XDA and can't see anything blatant in the forum to suggest there is a problem updating.
You did keep the gold card in to check for updates ?
Still sat in there.
Just in case I ran through the process again taking the card out and formatting it and recreating a goldcard in case the SD card had be 'set up' by the Desire, but still no joy.
question, how big does a gold card micro usb card need to be, dont want to mess with my 16 gig card, and have several 64 meg ones kicking about, gave alot away ...doh !!!
The HTC Desire is one of the latest high end phone by HTC bringing a huge 3.7" inch high quality AMOLED screen for crystal clear viewing, powered by a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and runs on, you guessed it, Android.
We first heard a... Read More
A guide on how I debranded my Vodafone Desire to get 2.2 quicker.
I re-installed my backed up data and everything's good.
To re-install those I simply re-downloaded Astro File manager from the App store, located the Apps through that on the phone and re-installed the APKs.
until a crack is found for the HBoot, I was lucky and was at work when the OTA came out and read all about it, so I cancelled it when it came up and debranded. Sorry I can't be of anymore help mate 
