Guide to beat the wait for 2.1 on Branded phones in UK.

[Crafoo]

Superb guide this, had some initial trouble with the Gold Card generator which I quickly found out needed Framework 2.0, after that it was all plain sailing excellent stuff. This thread ought to made a sticky for those out there like me who were waiting for their network (3uk branded running O2 sim) to crack on a get the update rolled out.

 

[Originalmate]

Fantastic guide!

Thank you very much. Been stuck on 1.5 with 3uk for far too long.

Just to add, not sure if anyone else found this but i was getting stuck using the goldcard, tearing my hair out Kept getting an 131 error until i tried using the reversed goldcard numbers and then it worked perfectly.

Thanks again

 

[b1jc]

Hi, year long reader, first time poster.

Sorry for being a lurker, I'm shy lol

I have a 3uk hero I'm trying to follow this and I get to patch mmc, and it comes up with an error I can't seem to get past, followed it through a few times with different gold car images but still get the same error.

"an error occured object reference not set to an instance of an object"

Please help

 

[Crafoo]

Have you tried using the MMC1 option instead of MMC0?

 

[b1jc]

Have you tried using the MMC1 option instead of MMC0?

I did try that, yeah but it didn't generate a number, "failed to get cid"

 

[djc45]

Hi,
I`m gonna be buying a refurb hero from 3 to use my 3 contract sim in, I had delayed as wanted to be able to update to 2.1, but after seeing this thread, don`t need to delay any longer.
A couple of questions for people who are on 3 and have done this:

1) When it's done, are the internet and mms settings for 3 wiped? If so, do I just get 3 to send me a text with the settings?

2) I assume I`m best doing this when I first get the phone, so I`ve nothing to back up, would i be right?

3)Am I best having the sim I will be using in the phone(contract) when I do it, or should I keep the PAYG sim in it. Or does it not make any difference?

4) If I debrand the phone, do I lose much functionality? I presume I need to use regular skype, and it will come out of my data allowance. But I presumably also lose the bloated planet 3 and all that rubbish. lol

Thanks for a really clear instructions in this thread.

 

[alchemistkevin]

Hi,
I`m gonna be buying a refurb hero from 3 to use my 3 contract sim in, I had delayed as wanted to be able to update to 2.1, but after seeing this thread, don`t need to delay any longer.
A couple of questions for people who are on 3 and have done this:

1) When it's done, are the internet and mms settings for 3 wiped? If so, do I just get 3 to send me a text with the settings?

2) I assume I`m best doing this when I first get the phone, so I`ve nothing to back up, would i be right?

3)Am I best having the sim I will be using in the phone(contract) when I do it, or should I keep the PAYG sim in it. Or does it not make any difference?

4) If I debrand the phone, do I lose much functionality? I presume I need to use regular skype, and it will come out of my data allowance. But I presumably also lose the bloated planet 3 and all that rubbish. lol

Thanks for a really clear instructions in this thread.

1. I had my 3 SIM in the phone when I did the update - didn't need to enter any Internet settings.

2. Do it as soon as you get it. 2.1 is great Don't bother with 1.5

3. Doesn't matter.

4. You can use skype no bother. Generic 2.1 is good. I had my desire from 3 - that's was completely generic and everything on '3' works fine.


Hope this helps.

 

[fazoool]

1. I had my 3 SIM in the phone when I did the update - didn't need to enter any Internet settings.

2. Do it as soon as you get it. 2.1 is great Don't bother with 1.5

3. Doesn't matter.

4. You can use skype no bother. Generic 2.1 is good. I had my desire from 3 - that's was completely generic and everything on '3' works fine.


Hope this helps.

This is a very nice and easy to use guide. I have successfully updated my HTC Hero on 3 to Android 2.1 following the steps in this guide. It is really wonderful, much faster but drains the battery a little quicker.However, I have some problems with using 'Skype on 3'. My previous version 0.9.0.9 doesn't work any more on Android 2.1. I've installed version 0.10.0.12 and 0.10.0.14 but they both don't work when WiFi is switched on (which is really strange). They work only when WiFi is switched off.

Another interesting thing...yesterday I manually checked for update by going into Setting->About the Phone->System Software Updates and tapping Check Now. It downloaded a firmware update of size 79.88MB and installed it. All the settings were preserved and I don't spot any difference at all. Any body else received such an update once you've installed Android 2.1?

 

[Davelfc37]

"an error occured object reference not set to an instance of an object"

Please help

You need to try another SD card, I got this error until I found a spare card and then it worked perfectly.

 

[alchemistkevin]

This is a very nice and easy to use guide. I have successfully updated my HTC Hero on 3 to Android 2.1 following the steps in this guide. It is really wonderful, much faster but drains the battery a little quicker.However, I have some problems with using 'Skype on 3'. My previous version 0.9.0.9 doesn't work any more on Android 2.1. I've installed version 0.10.0.12 and 0.10.0.14 but they both don't work when WiFi is switched on (which is really strange). They work only when WiFi is switched off.

Another interesting thing...yesterday I manually checked for update by going into Setting->About the Phone->System Software Updates and tapping Check Now. It downloaded a firmware update of size 79.88MB and installed it. All the settings were preserved and I don't spot any difference at all. Any body else received such an update once you've installed Android 2.1?

I'll check about the update bit later when I have the phone in front of me but skype won't work when wifi is on as the phone terminated the HSDPA connection and uses WiFi.

I'm not aware of any way to keep both connections alive and let skype use HSDPA so I've switched WiFi off on mine.

 

[fazoool]

I'll check about the update bit later when I have the phone in front of me but skype won't work when wifi is on as the phone terminated the HSDPA connection and uses WiFi.

I'm not aware of any way to keep both connections alive and let skype use HSDPA so I've switched WiFi off on mine.

But 'Skype on 3' version 0.9.0.9, running on Android 1.5, always worked fine whether network connection was WiFi or HSDPA. It's frustrating that the recent versions don't support connection over WiFi.

 

[ianm2k4]

So if you 'update' an Orange branded phone and you get locked network. Has anyone tried purchasing an unlock code and put that in?

Does it work then?

 

[uin]

Was trying to be patient & wait for the official update.
After getting no answers from 3UK, couple of weeks after the HTC EU release, came across this.

B-R-I-LIANT, cheers for the walk thru

Dead simple to follow, now playin with 2.1

 

[slater143]

I did this to my Hero on three last night and it worked wonders. Thanks! I was sick of waiting for the network to pull their finger out.

 

[praga]

Hi Im getting an Orange locked htc hero soon, and i just saw this thread and some people are having trouble with debranding and unlocking htc hero orange.
my question is if i debrand my htc hero and if tht problem came is it possible to downgrade it to the old version, if possible how?

 

[PumaYaYa]

Just a quick note to anyone trying this outside the UK, it does work as I've updated on a Telus (Canada) Hero.

Thanks.

 

[b1jc]

You need to try another SD card, I got this error until I found a spare card and then it worked perfectly.

Still no luck with that, tried it with 3 different cards, and 2 different phones......

But it don't matter cos I'm just downloading the official ROM off the htc site, which I think must have just been released today!!

Yes you read me right!!!!

HTC Hero - Software Download

 

[Slug]

I'm just downloading the official ROM off the htc site, which I think must have just been released today!!

That will be why the release date is shown as 8th January 2010 then....

Relax everyone, this is the 2.73.771.73 firmware.

 

[JohnHwessel]

I've just downloaded the Goldcard tool to my XP machine, unzipped it, and when I run it it comes up with error "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000135). Click on OK to terminate the application".

Any ideas anyone?

I found a Windows 7 PC and ran it on there no problem. Now back on XP to do the rest.

 

[simonthepost]

Did this today,it WORKS!!!! Thank you

 

[larsselleth]

I have a HTC hero on T-Mobile (poor me) I have just been reading the 2.1 update provide by Moko.

Why cant I debrand my phone and use Googles Stock Eclair 2.1? I've thought about this for a while but never done any serious research. Im not being lazy, I just do not know how to word it.
I can turn Sense UI off and I get stock Google 1.5 (I assume) I can install a custom UI off the Android Market.
So why can I not just download Googles 2.1 update and completely bypass HTC (And T-Mobile, but lets not get started on this) and then install my own UI? Therefore there is no legality issue, im using Googles on software and a Google approved UI.
Or even install 2.2 FroYo?

Sorry if this has been asked a million times.

 

[Willie Ekaslike]

Thanks Moko. Really easy. My 3UK Hero now running 2.1 and I'm one happy bunny

 

[scen1x]

Just want to say thanks. after a few attepts i managed to do it.

i originally tried it on 7 but got the 170 error during the update which scared me thinking have i broke my phone

it was fine tho then done it on windows xp and worked perfectly...

Anyway thanks MOKO

 

[Xyro]

I have a HTC hero on T-Mobile (poor me) I have just been reading the 2.1 update provide by Moko.

Why cant I debrand my phone and use Googles Stock Eclair 2.1? I've thought about this for a while but never done any serious research. Im not being lazy, I just do not know how to word it.
I can turn Sense UI off and I get stock Google 1.5 (I assume) I can install a custom UI off the Android Market.
So why can I not just download Googles 2.1 update and completely bypass HTC (And T-Mobile, but lets not get started on this) and then install my own UI? Therefore there is no legality issue, im using Googles on software and a Google approved UI.
Or even install 2.2 FroYo?

Sorry if this has been asked a million times.

You can either just use another launcher app, as an alternative to HTC Sense homescreen, or install a vanilla custom ROM.

You can't just install Google's releases as the Rom needs all the right drivers and tweaks applied to run on the hero.

 

[sar_02]

Worked like a charm! 3UK handset, easy guide to follow. Google goggles is great haha!

Had been following the GSM thread coz that was where most of the discussion seemed to be, only registered today to thank the OP. Cheers! And anyone else hanging on for 3 if you have access to something that isn't Win7 just go ahead an de-brand NOW