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

aggrodoc · Jul 7, 2010

In process of debranding an Orange Hero and installing 2.1. FIngers/toes everything crossed. Will let u all know how I got along.

Gage_Hero · Jul 7, 2010

If your having trouble making a goldcard.. get the goldcard tool. I did 2 cards the sandisk that came with my phone and a kingston 4 gig class 4. Very easy to use and both cards worked fine. Of course I used the 4 gig in the phone. On my second rom now... villain 10.3

Tass608 · Jul 8, 2010

Please what I want to know is if I can use the goldcard created with this goldcard-tool to root my hero or say my htc desire?
Thanks

aggrodoc · Jul 8, 2010

Xyro said:
Ok guys, this has cropped up a few times in the forums so I think android1230 is right.

If you're using an Orange branded phone, please do not de-brand it

It seems that the OTA update includes a radio incompatible with orange branded phones, and it will reject your SIM card saying the phone is network locked (even if your SIM card is an orange one)

If you have already done this, please try reinstalling the orange 1.5 ROM using a goldcard the same way you installed the generic 1.5. Hopefully this should cure it.

EDIT: Not all Orange branded phones seem to be affected, but unless you're feeling lucky, and have enough time to re-brand the phone if necessary, I still wouldn't recommend it. You'd just be wasting your time if your phone wasn't compatible. (Plus you'd have factory reset your phone for nothing).

What happens if we try calling Orange to get a sim card unlock pin if after debranding the sim is locked. Has anyone tried it? wWould Orange provide the pin?

Xyro · Jul 8, 2010

I don't think it would work. Like I said, this bug has appeared even for people with Orange sims, who shouldn't be affected even if it was locked. It's not possible to lock them by flashing firmware, so it seems the radio is just confusing the hero.

@Tass. You can use this to root your hero, yes. But please, check the people in the HTC Desire section first to find out how to root that. They will know for sure if this method of goldcarding will also work.

sshaqs2000 · Jul 8, 2010

I've debranded my phone and after a day I still have no update option to 2.1. I've turned on all my firmware options but still nothing. Is there a rom option that i can download rather than wait for the over the air update which doesn't seem to be happaning?

aggrodoc · Jul 8, 2010

aggrodoc said:
In process of debranding an Orange Hero and installing 2.1. FIngers/toes everything crossed. Will let u all know how I got along.

Got both updates but now have SIM locked screen. Has anyone successfully gone back to 1.5 Ornage ROM after the HERO got locked?

FuricTrax · Jul 8, 2010

Hi All,

I know this is my first post so some maybe a bit weary but I have just managed to follow Moko76 process for a HTC Hero on Orange UK (a locked branded Orange version which I received in February with 2.73.61.66)

1. I GoldCarded
2. Downgraded the firmware
3. Went through the OTA update process, and then on boot got the Network locked message.
I then got my unlock code from HTCCODE (it was sent via email as the program didn't seem to work correctly), entered the code in twice, the first time it said 'Network unlock successful' but still said Network locked on the home screen and was asking for a PIN, so under the advice from the guy at HTCCODE entered it again, and job done

.

Hope this helps some, I am off on holiday Saturday so apologies if I don't reply for a few weeks for any help etc.

Manzrif · Jul 8, 2010

Debranded 3uk Hero here...woop woop.

Big thanks for the perfect instructions.
No point waiting for the 3uk ROM, you can go back to that if you want (why???)

Anyways all good.
Loving voice search and Google Nav "Navigate to Home"

alchemistkevin · Jul 8, 2010

Is this the best thread on the forum?

I certainly think so.

Easy to follow steps by the OP - Thank you. I'm now rockin' 2.1 on my Hero

Geejay · Jul 9, 2010

Thanks for this thread, it's extremely useful. I'll probably put aside a couple of hours this afternoon to debrand and upgrade my 3 Mobile Hero.

Just wanted to ask one thing though. The ota offical carrier update keeps your original settings and apps, is that the case with this procedure? The impression I got from reading the HTC site was that installing the generic rom would do a factory reset on the phone, but I might have misunderstood this.

Cheers

FuricTrax · Jul 9, 2010

@Geejay

I lost all my settings because I had to flash generic firmware over the top of my Orange firmware.

Geejay · Jul 9, 2010

Thanks FuricTrax, that might put me off a bit. When you say "settings", what do you mean...what was it that you had to re-do after the firmware change? Also, what about you apps, were they ok?

Cheers, sorry for the 20 questions!

Also, could any Three users confirm their experience re: settings and apps?

Thanks

bartjunited · Jul 9, 2010

Guys

I followed all the steps above using the RUU_Hero_HTC_WWE_2.73.405.66_WWE_test_signed_NoDri ver.exe Rom from the XDA website.

My phone has debranded as I dont get the T-Mobile stuff when it boots & in about phone it just states HTC Hero

However after it reboots & connects to wifi etc I havent had any updates come down?

Have i done something wrong or do i need to do anything else to force the update?

TIA

Bart

FuricTrax · Jul 9, 2010

@Geejay,

I had to redo the whole lot. So basically it's like you never had the phone before, which kinda sucks, but the price I was willing to pay

. When I went back into the Market Place > Downloads, the apps I had downloaded previously were there, so I just installed them all again (although don't exit until you have reinstalled as they won't show up as previously downloaded items, only the first time you open it up).

@bartjunited

I downgraded to the generic HTC 1.5 firmware (2.73.405.5), maybe the one you installed is still branded?

bartjunited · Jul 9, 2010

im sure the one i have is def unbranded as there is no mention of T-Mobile as it boots up & in the phone model number it says HTC Hero rather that T-Mobile G2 Touch?

help!!!!!!!

adz182 · Jul 9, 2010

I have just unbranded an orange locked hero . I got the phone last week and used my rebel sim to let me use my vodafone sim card in it . I followed the guide and now it works perfectly ! but im guessing thats only cuz my sim is vodafone !?

Adz

android1230 · Jul 9, 2010

Would it be possible for you to try an Orange sim card in the phone?
If it comes up "Network Locked" that would prove that we can de brand and install the generic 2.1 ROM onto an Orange locked Hero, and use anything but an Orange sim afterwards

Cheers

adz182 · Jul 9, 2010

android1230 said:
Would it be possible for you to try an Orange sim card in the phone?
If it comes up "Network Locked" that would prove that we can de brand and install the generic 2.1 ROM onto an Orange locked Hero, and use anything but an Orange sim afterwards

Cheers

Yeah sure will try my wifes in a sec !

Adz

toocoldhere · Jul 9, 2010

What a great guide, 2.1 is installing right now. Many thanks.

toocoldhere · Jul 9, 2010

So had to pop out for dinner, otherwise I could have told you all that 10 minutes after the last post, I had 2.1 running!

steve_f · Jul 9, 2010

Worked like a charm thanks (I'm on Tmobile)

Couldn't be bothered waiting for Tmobile to load their crapware onto the ROM.

adz182 · Jul 9, 2010

android1230 said:
Would it be possible for you to try an Orange sim card in the phone?
If it comes up "Network Locked" that would prove that we can de brand and install the generic 2.1 ROM onto an Orange locked Hero, and use anything but an Orange sim afterwards

Cheers

Nope wont work just tried wifes orange sim . network locked . i guess it wont work with the normal radio off 2.1 ??? works fine with my vodafone sim tho

n0v · Jul 10, 2010

On 3 in the uk, got fed up with waiting as I could not get in to the market place as something was corrupt and it would not take the account login details.

Only option was to do factory reset so I went for the 2.1 upgrade mentioned here. Great instructions and not any issues, working fine and all my apps are now back on.

One question though, does the app have to be written to be put on to the SD card as I seem to have run out of space again!!!

Thank you to OP for this, simply excellent.

cheers

n0v

Slug · Jul 10, 2010

n0v said:
does the app have to be written to be put on to the SD card as I seem to have run out of space again!!!

Apps can only be installed to external memory in the upcoming Android 2.2. a.k.a. Froyo. Until that appears for the Hero, the only way to do so is to install a third-party ROM that offers this functionality.

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

Newbie

Lurker

Lurker

Newbie

4 8 15 16 23 42

Lurker

Newbie

Lurker

Newbie

Member

Newbie

Lurker

Newbie

Well-Known Member

Lurker

Well-Known Member

Lurker

Newbie

Lurker

Lurker

Lurker

Newbie

Lurker

Member

Check six!

BEST TECH IN 2023

Smartphones

Best Android Phones

Upcoming

Best iPhones

Upcoming

Tablets

Best Tablets

Upcoming

Laptops

Best Laptops

Upcoming

Televisions

Best TVs

Upcoming

Game Consoles

Best Game Consoles

Upcoming

Wearables

Best Wearables

Upcoming

Smart Home

Smart Home Tech

Upcoming

Similar threads