***** WARNING, there seems to be some problem with certain Orange branded phones receiving the 2.1 update after using this method, I would suggest to avoid problems that Orange customers do not use this method to debrand their phones until further notice****
*****WARNING, due to some unforseen compatability issues between Windows 7 and the HTC sync software it is highly advised that either Windows xp or vista are used during the process of debranding your phone***** (some users have however managed a successful install despite using windows 7)
Hi! It was too late last night to try and write down a detailed description of how to put the generic Rom onto your phone, but now I've got some spare time, here is a step by step guide to how I did it.
1. Back up an entire copy of your sd card onto your pc.
2. Sync your contents using the newest version of HTC sync (check htc website to check you have the newest version installed) Because lets face it, losing your contacts list would be a major pain in the ass.
ok that's the main phone data backup sorted
Now you need to download 2 pieces of software these are:
Generic unbranded HTC Hero rom - which is here: [link removed]
Then the Goldcard Tool - which is at the bottom of the FIRST post here:
http://android.modaco.com/content/software/308798/pc-application-goldcardtool/
Ok: and now you are ready to go.
3: Unplug your phone from the pc if it isn't already go into phone settings/Sd card and storage/ unmount sd card and then click Format sd card (you didn't forget to back it up in step 1 i hope)
4. Now go into phone settings again applictaions/development and then make sure there is a tick in the Usb Debugging box.
5. Now open the gold card generator on your pc.
6. Connect your phone via the usb cable but DO NOT MOUNT OR SYNC JUST YET
7. Now the phone is connected click the box that say's "Get CID" in the goldcard tool
if this works correctly the box next to it should now be filled with a long number, now select and copy that number. If at this stage it did not find a number, simply check the mmc0 box instead of the mmc1 box that is checked as standard and try "Get CID" again.
8. Now that you have the CID number click on the blue link below the CID box in the gold card tool, the link reads "open revskills de free HTC gold card generator"
This will open a website into which you can input your email address and a box for the CID number that you copied during the last step.
9. Go check your email and you should have been sent an email containing a file "goldcard.img" which is specific to you and you shoul save it somewhere on your pc where you won't lose it.
10. Now mount the htc hero to your pc so that it is being used as a mass storage device.
11. Now in the goldcard tool click the refresh button then select your sd card from the drop down box next to refresh. (if this shows no card then check you have mounted the phone correctly)
12. Click 'Load goldcard.img' and select the file you received by email.
13. Click patch MMC and almost instantaneously the tool will announce that you now have a goldcard.
So that was relatively simple and you can now put the generic rom onto your device without problem. To do this:
14. locate the generic rom executable file that you downloaded at the start of this tutorial and simply run the program. This is an official HTC rom, so will have the usual windows you will recognise if you've done hero software updates before, so follow the steps shown on screen and the install will begin. At this stage the screen on your phone will show some skateboarding androids at the bottom, with some info on the update progress above them. DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING NOW!!! just leave it alone and after a few minutes you will be notified that the update is complete and the phone will reboot itself.
The reboot will take slightly longer than usual, so don't panic, just let it do it's stuff.
The next screen you will see after the HTC logo is the one you would have gotten when you switched on your android for the first time (Keyboard tutorial, google mail settings etc) Don't bother to set any of this up because as soon as your phone gets a 3g/wifi signal it will prompt you that an update is available (update 1 preperatory update & youtube player) click to download this and then when it's finished downloading in the notification bar you will be prompted to install, click "install now"
The phone will now reboot again and install the official part one update, again this takes longer than usual, with various unpacking logo's on screen so don't panic just sit back and relax.
now when you get back to the setup screen again with the keyboard tutorial and all that stuff again, skip past it all again because as oon as your phone gets 3g/wifi connection again it will prompt you to download another update this one of course is the official htc 2.1 rom ota update (the holy grail) haha.
Click to download (best over wifi) as it's about 80/100mb
when the download finishes be patient because it takes about a minute or so to check the update before prompting you to install. when the option appears click to install and your phone will reboot for the final time and start installing 2.1
Please note the 2.1 update takes a long time to install and various progress bars will stop and start, so DO NOT PANIC! yes it seems like a while but it's got a lot to do.
Eventually after 2 or 3 slow progress bars you will be greeted with a spanking new 2.1 update official htc hero rom, you can now transfer any music/pictures etc on to it from your old backed up rom and of course don't forget to re-sync your contacts using htc sync.
And Phew! we are finally done, hope you have found this all helpful, I'm now gonna grab me a coffee and go play with my 2.1 some more.
P.s this has now been tried on 2x three mobile uk phones and 1x Vodafone uk phone, with 100% success rate.
Please note: this does not give you root access to your phone, it just debrands it.
*****WARNING, due to some unforseen compatability issues between Windows 7 and the HTC sync software it is highly advised that either Windows xp or vista are used during the process of debranding your phone***** (some users have however managed a successful install despite using windows 7)
Hi! It was too late last night to try and write down a detailed description of how to put the generic Rom onto your phone, but now I've got some spare time, here is a step by step guide to how I did it.
1. Back up an entire copy of your sd card onto your pc.
2. Sync your contents using the newest version of HTC sync (check htc website to check you have the newest version installed) Because lets face it, losing your contacts list would be a major pain in the ass.
ok that's the main phone data backup sorted
Now you need to download 2 pieces of software these are:
Generic unbranded HTC Hero rom - which is here: [link removed]
Then the Goldcard Tool - which is at the bottom of the FIRST post here:
http://android.modaco.com/content/software/308798/pc-application-goldcardtool/
Ok: and now you are ready to go.
3: Unplug your phone from the pc if it isn't already go into phone settings/Sd card and storage/ unmount sd card and then click Format sd card (you didn't forget to back it up in step 1 i hope)
4. Now go into phone settings again applictaions/development and then make sure there is a tick in the Usb Debugging box.
5. Now open the gold card generator on your pc.
6. Connect your phone via the usb cable but DO NOT MOUNT OR SYNC JUST YET
7. Now the phone is connected click the box that say's "Get CID" in the goldcard tool
if this works correctly the box next to it should now be filled with a long number, now select and copy that number. If at this stage it did not find a number, simply check the mmc0 box instead of the mmc1 box that is checked as standard and try "Get CID" again.
8. Now that you have the CID number click on the blue link below the CID box in the gold card tool, the link reads "open revskills de free HTC gold card generator"
This will open a website into which you can input your email address and a box for the CID number that you copied during the last step.
9. Go check your email and you should have been sent an email containing a file "goldcard.img" which is specific to you and you shoul save it somewhere on your pc where you won't lose it.
10. Now mount the htc hero to your pc so that it is being used as a mass storage device.
11. Now in the goldcard tool click the refresh button then select your sd card from the drop down box next to refresh. (if this shows no card then check you have mounted the phone correctly)
12. Click 'Load goldcard.img' and select the file you received by email.
13. Click patch MMC and almost instantaneously the tool will announce that you now have a goldcard.
So that was relatively simple and you can now put the generic rom onto your device without problem. To do this:
14. locate the generic rom executable file that you downloaded at the start of this tutorial and simply run the program. This is an official HTC rom, so will have the usual windows you will recognise if you've done hero software updates before, so follow the steps shown on screen and the install will begin. At this stage the screen on your phone will show some skateboarding androids at the bottom, with some info on the update progress above them. DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING NOW!!! just leave it alone and after a few minutes you will be notified that the update is complete and the phone will reboot itself.
The reboot will take slightly longer than usual, so don't panic, just let it do it's stuff.
The next screen you will see after the HTC logo is the one you would have gotten when you switched on your android for the first time (Keyboard tutorial, google mail settings etc) Don't bother to set any of this up because as soon as your phone gets a 3g/wifi signal it will prompt you that an update is available (update 1 preperatory update & youtube player) click to download this and then when it's finished downloading in the notification bar you will be prompted to install, click "install now"
The phone will now reboot again and install the official part one update, again this takes longer than usual, with various unpacking logo's on screen so don't panic just sit back and relax.
now when you get back to the setup screen again with the keyboard tutorial and all that stuff again, skip past it all again because as oon as your phone gets 3g/wifi connection again it will prompt you to download another update this one of course is the official htc 2.1 rom ota update (the holy grail) haha.
Click to download (best over wifi) as it's about 80/100mb
when the download finishes be patient because it takes about a minute or so to check the update before prompting you to install. when the option appears click to install and your phone will reboot for the final time and start installing 2.1
Please note the 2.1 update takes a long time to install and various progress bars will stop and start, so DO NOT PANIC! yes it seems like a while but it's got a lot to do.
Eventually after 2 or 3 slow progress bars you will be greeted with a spanking new 2.1 update official htc hero rom, you can now transfer any music/pictures etc on to it from your old backed up rom and of course don't forget to re-sync your contacts using htc sync.
And Phew! we are finally done, hope you have found this all helpful, I'm now gonna grab me a coffee and go play with my 2.1 some more.
P.s this has now been tried on 2x three mobile uk phones and 1x Vodafone uk phone, with 100% success rate.
Please note: this does not give you root access to your phone, it just debrands it.
