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Debrading my Desire HD

vRS

Lurker
I upgraded my contract phone to the Desire HD last November through Vodafone. The phone was already unlocked when i got it but it has some Vodafone branding on it.

This is what my phone is currently on,

Android Version
2.2


Software Number
1.39.161.1

Basically i want to change the firmware to the generic UK version so i can receive the updates quicker and i also want to remove the annoying Vodafone stuff like the logo at boot up and the 360 apps.

What is the best way to go about doing this? I have had a look at the guides but i'm still confused. Do i need to make a gold card and downgrade? Or can i just install the generic firmware over this one? Do i need to root my phone before i can do this?

I'm not looking to install custom firmware and didnt really want to root the phone.

What is the latest version of the generic firmware that i need to install on my phone?

Another problem that i have noticed on my phone is that when i unlock the screen it seems to keep opening the Car Panel App on its own, which is really annoying.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Rich
 
For all the debranding stuff I do not know. But the car panel thing you can go to settings/dock and see if auto launch is turned on.
 
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You need to make a goldcard and flash the unbranded, 2.2, 1.32.x.x firmware. The sticky in this section has a link to a copy.

Then you will be setup to receive 2.3 via the OTA updates when it becomes avilable in your country.

And no, you don't need root.
 
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You will need to make a Goldcard
Creating a GoldCard - Android @ MoDaCo

Download RUU_Ace_HTC_WWE_1.32.405.6_Radio_12.28b.60.140e_26.03.02.26_M_release_155891_signed from here http://androidforums.com/desire-hd-...140e_26-03-02-26_m_release_155891_signed.html the software verion is lower because it's a stock unbranded rom, Once downloaded, plug phone into computer and choose htc sync from the pop up on your phone, you need to have the HTC Sync software and/or the android SDK installed, double click the downloaded file and it should flash the unbranded ROM to your phone.

edit: and what Xyro said, took me ages to make this post though lol

edit edit: there is an easier way of making a goldcard than that but I cant seem to find the link
 
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Thanks for the replies.

I made the gold card and then tried installing RUU_Ace_HTC_WWE_1.32.405.6_Radio_12.28b.60.140e_26.03.02.26_M_release_155891_signed but during the installation i got the following error message.

ERROR [131]: CUSTOMER ID ERROR

The ROM Update Utility cannot update your Android phone.
Please get the correct ROM Update Utility and try again.

I take it that i'm doing something wrong here.
 
I've tried making the gold card about 5 times now using the memory card that came with the phone and it seems that i'm making it right without any errors or problems. However everytime i try to do the downgrade i keep getting the same error.

Could this be due to the current Vodafone firmware that is already on the phone?
 
Just another update. I've been using the Gold Card Tool 0.05 to make the gold card for my phone and have been selecting MMC0 as MMC1 doesnt work.

I downloaded the Goldcard Helper app from the market and it gives me the exact same Reverse CID for MMC0 as the Gold Card Tool. However the app also gives me the Reverse CID for MMC2. I tried to make a gold card using the MMC2 number and then tried downgrading and this time it gave me a different error.

ERROR [140]: BOOTLOADER VERSION ERROR

I'm still having trouble downgrading this stupid thing.
 
Its been a while since I made my Goldcard, but I did it the long way by editing the hex code manually on the SD card and I'm pretty sure it was the MMC2 code. So I'm pretty sure your goldcard is working, and as cracksquirrel said, it looks like you need to downgrade first.
 
Quick Point: Not all SD Cards can be made into Goldcards. If my memory proves right, the best to use is a Samsung 2GB SD card.

Edit: sorry, best is a kingston 1 or 2GB, but Samsung works too
 
I will try one more time using the MMC2 number.

Is there any way to tell if the gold card has been created successfully?

If i use this guide, [GUIDE] How to downgrade 1.7x/1.8x/2.x to 1.32.405.6 - xda-developers will the phone still be rooted after downgrading to the unbranded firmware?

I dont mind rooting the phone to get it to install the unbranded firmware but if it remains rooted then i would rather do it they way i have already been trying.
 
yea, i suggest you follow the instructions from the xda developers link. That way, if nything goes wrong you can refer back to the comments on the page.
 
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I will try one more time using the MMC2 number.

Is there any way to tell if the gold card has been created successfully?

If i use this guide, [GUIDE] How to downgrade 1.7x/1.8x/2.x to 1.32.405.6 - xda-developers will the phone still be rooted after downgrading to the unbranded firmware?

I dont mind rooting the phone to get it to install the unbranded firmware but if it remains rooted then i would rather do it they way i have already been trying.

No it doesn't remain rooted, this is the way I downgraded my DHD and I had to root again to overclock my cpu
 
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Just used that guide and it worked perfectly.

I've successfully managed to downgrade the firmware and get rid of all the Vodafone rubbish. :)

Now i'm running on,

Android Version
2.2

Software Number
1.32.405.6

I tried checking for an OTA update but there's nothing available so far.
 
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