• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

A guide on how I debranded my Vodafone Desire to get 2.2 quicker.

Septian said:
Did you already download the dreaded OTA mate?
If so I dont think the update.zip update will work, afaik you needed to install a stock HTC rom, then put the zip file on the SD card and try then, It shouldnt matter how you copy the ZIP onto the SD card, Cardreader or USB imo.

I was lucky enough not to download the OTA, as I was at work and managed to read enough about it to decline it when I got home, I then Debranded via the OP guide :)

Sept
Click to expand...

I downloaded the OTA but then I saw the thread and cancelled the install. Just deleted the file. It seems to have added an app called places but nothing else, no branding as far as I can see and no bookmarks.

Dont know what added so I cant delete individual bits of the install????

Where can I get a stock ROM and do I install it the same way as this or do I need to do the whole Goldcard thing I keep reading about??

Thanks for the advice
 
chippy1722 said:
Hi all,

When it says use Usb to install the update.zip to the phone, do I need to install it to a particular part of the phone, My HTC Sync does not work and never has, does this affect it or is it just a case of drag and drop into the phone in Disk Drive mode.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

The Update.ZIP needs to goto the root of your SD card, you can do this by USB or Using a cardreader/adaptor :)
 
TonyHTC said:
I downloaded the OTA but then I saw the thread and cancelled the install. Just deleted the file. It seems to have added an app called places but nothing else, no branding as far as I can see and no bookmarks.

Dont know what added so I cant delete individual bits of the install????

Where can I get a stock ROM and do I install it the same way as this or do I need to do the whole Goldcard thing I keep reading about??

Thanks for the advice
Click to expand...

I just followed the guide in the Original post, it worked for me, but then again i didnt install the update at all, sorry I cant really be of any more help :(
 
Septian said:
The Update.ZIP needs to goto the root of your SD card, you can do this by USB or Using a cardreader/adaptor :)
Click to expand...


Cheers, I have looked through Astro App manager and I can see a file called Root but not on my sd card. Should there be a file called Root there too.

I know I am probably not understanding this properly.
 
TonyHTC said:
. It seems to have added an app called places but nothing else
Thanks for the advice
Click to expand...

Places is a Googlemap update, chances are you got that when you installed a Googlemaps update and have not restarted since then (You need to restart the phone in order to see it i noticed) :)

And yes, you need to create a goldcard to circumvent the protection on the phone afaik.
 
chippy1722 said:
Cheers, I have looked through Astro App manager and I can see a file called Root but not on my sd card. Should there be a file called Root there too.

I know I am probably not understanding this properly.
Click to expand...

Chippy,

Just use windows explorer and drag and drop the update.zip onto the SD card via PC. When you connect phone to PC you will have an option to charge and connect.
 
chippy1722 said:
Cheers, I have looked through Astro App manager and I can see a file called Root but not on my sd card. Should there be a file called Root there too.

I know I am probably not understanding this properly.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I didnt explain that very well
By root i mean the main directory (start) of the SD card..

for example C:\ is the root of your Harddrive on the computer
:)

so you would just copy it to the main part and not inside any directories of the card.
 
I'm going to follow the full process tomorrow - will update when complete to let people know about the failure or success of it all.

Thanks to everyone who's contributing to this thread - really useful having a community of followers who know a damn lot more than most of the nobs at Voda who tried to take advantage in the first place!!!!

Peace HTC fans!
 
Kinda hoping they have pulled it to "fix" it - small issues like missing car panel & backup options, music player failing to read WMA tags, people reporting gps/wifi/camera issues - hopefully theyre just sorting through this and will start to push 2.2 again soon with a new version number. Never really know with htc though it seems :p
 
If indeed the ota 2.2 has been pulled, perhaps its wise to see the outcome. I did read it may only be released for a limited time, for people to test :confused:

I await further information.....
 
Bully74uk said:
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) ?

What OS is your PC ? Win 7, Vista ?
Click to expand...

It's ok I managed to fix it. It had failed when doing the upgrade to Froyo. I took out the sim and managed to get it to boot of sorts. I then downgraded the OS back to 2.1 from my PC and went through the process again. All now working well with Froyo goodness :)
 
Septian said:
Sorry, I didnt explain that very well
By root i mean the main directory (start) of the SD card..

for example C:\ is the root of your Harddrive on the computer
:)

so you would just copy it to the main part and not inside any directories of the card.
Click to expand...

I tried it all but when when i get to step 7 it sayd E:Error in sdcard/update.zip

(status 7) Installation aborted.

I havn't downloaded the latest VF update no not sure why it wont work.
 
chippy1722 said:
I tried it all but when when i get to step 7 it sayd E:Error in sdcard/update.zip

(status 7) Installation aborted.

I havn't downloaded the latest VF update no not sure why it wont work.
Click to expand...

did you get as far as downloading the file from the Original Post?
Which can be downloaded here (its the very top one labeled 'new bravo Rom'): RUU_Bravo_HTC_WWE_1.21.405.2_Radio_32.36.00.28U_4. 06.00.02_2_release_126984_signed.ex - xda-developers
Click to expand...
and installing it and getting it to work? I believe you need to install that update before you can try the manual update via the ZIP file.

I had a similar problem until i realized that the firmwares kind of have to stack in order. So i dont think you can jump straight to 2.2 from anything less.

Edit:
Basically I didnt install the OTA "new" voda update, I followed the OP guide above to the letter, left my goldcard in after It had updated to the rom from the OP, then i enabled wifi and checked for 2.2 update and it downloaded.

So i gather that as they seem to have "switched" off the OTA 2.2 update, the ZIP file on the SD card is basically an offline equivalent, so you dont get it OTA.

Hope that helps
 
Septian said:
did you get as far as downloading the file from the Original Post?
and installing it and getting it to work? I believe you need to install that update before you can try the manual update via the ZIP file.

I had a similar problem until i realized that the firmwares kind of have to stack in order. So i dont think you can jump straight to 2.2 from anything less.
Click to expand...

I just followed the steps from the geekword site linked above.I wasn't following the original steps, just the Manual Install.
 
chippy1722 said:
I just followed the steps from the geekword site linked above.I wasn't following the original steps, just the Manual Install.
Click to expand...

I would try following the OP download mate, then doing the Update.ZIP update, as I said in my Edit above :)

I really hope you can get this working mate, I'm glad i debranded my VF rubbish :)
 
Septian said:
I would try following the OP download mate, then doing the Update.ZIP update, as I said in my Edit above :)

I really hope you can get this working mate, I'm glad i debranded my VF rubbish :)
Click to expand...

I was going to try the OP instructions but he says this.

* 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.

My HTC sync has never worked, no matter what forums I use I cant get it too. Will this stop me from getting it to work.

Cheers for the help.
 
chippy1722 said:
I was going to try the OP instructions but he says this.

* 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.

My HTC sync has never worked, no matter what forums I use I cant get it too. Will this stop me from getting it to work.

Cheers for the help.
Click to expand...

Does your phone connect in Disk Drive mode?

When I did my debrand, i wasnt even running HTC Sync mode, You only really need the drivers. I actually debranded mine in "charge only" mode with USB Debugging enabled.
 
Skajme said:
quick question
will this process work the same with a branded t-mobile desire?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure mate, It's possible it will, but I really can't say, Is your phone sim locked?

I've read that you can possibly do this kind of debranding, but then ive also heard that after the update the phone asks for a sim unlock code, which you have to pay for. But i'm sure there was another post to do with removing sim card and then updating..

EDIT: It did not ask for a sim unlock code on my VF Desire as it was not sim locked beforehand.
 
Septian said:
Does your phone connect in Disk Drive mode?

When I did my debrand, i wasnt even running HTC Sync mode, You only really need the drivers. I actually debranded mine in "charge only" mode with USB Debugging enabled.
Click to expand...

Just going through it now, did you just drag your backed up drivers into the SD card.
 
chippy1722 said:
Just going through it now, did you just drag your backed up drivers into the SD card.
Click to expand...

You need to install HTC Sync for the Drivers to connect the phone from what I can gather (I don't think it matters if HTC Sync Actually works) I had it on charge only and enabled USB Debugging, then all i did (as i was using the card that came with the phone as a goldcard) I just copied everything from it onto a directory on my computer and when i was done copied it all back.
 
Septian said:
I'm not sure mate, It's possible it will, but I really can't say, Is your phone sim locked?

I've read that you can possibly do this kind of debranding, but then ive also heard that after the update the phone asks for a sim unlock code, which you have to pay for. But i'm sure there was another post to do with removing sim card and then updating..

EDIT: It did not ask for a sim unlock code on my VF Desire as it was not sim locked beforehand.
Click to expand...


have just checked and yes my phone is network locked.
i'm guessing this means its not worth the risk?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom