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Debrand O2 Desire

M

Meh

Well-Known Member
Hi all.

I'm about to debrand my O2 Desire, unlocked and unrooted. As it's a returned handset (ie original owner returned it to O2) I only got a generic box so don't know if it's AMOLED or SLCD. I got it in Oct 10.

My HBoot is 0.93.0001 and P/N is 99HKZ063-04. Can anyone confirm please before I brick the thing.

Additionally, is there a 'best' guide and file download for unbranding to the generic HTC firmware. There seems to be numerous guides and I'm not sure which to go by.

Thanks!!
 
All android 2.2 RUU's support both AMOLED and SLCD.

It is simply a case of creating a gold card (please see rooting FAQ in my Signature below this post for guide and tool.)

Downloading the RUU to your PC, and run the RUU from PC and follow instructions.

The only time you need to worry about AMOLED or SLCD is if you have to downgrade first, but I dont think you do with O2 software version.

To ascertain which screen you have, open a pure black image that fills the screen and go into a dark room.

If you can see light bleeding from around the edges of the screen, its SLCD. If you cannot, its AMOLED.
 
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Thank you all, will follow the above guide. Not got time to read it now as lunch nearly up so not sure if it indicates, but how long does the whole process take? Can I get it done in an hour or so or is it a long task.

Cheers!
 
You can get the debranding process done in that time. Probably half, but the setting up afterwards can take time.

I'd actually suggest you download visionary+
19/Nov r14: VISIONary + one click root - Android @ MoDaCo

Get temp root (no warranty affected as it is only an app - although debranding may affect warranty anyway) then backup with titanium.

Then do the same on your debranded phone but titanium restore.
 
Super, thanks. Phone is out of warranty anyway (network gave it to me in exchange for my infernal i7500) and as it was a return it only had an O2 warranty up to end of contract period (I believe HTC warranty doesn't transfer) so I'm happy to play about. Not wanting permanent root though.
 
Temp root is removed completely after reboot, so no problem there. Temp root, restore your apps and settings and reboot.

This app does offer perm root, but it doesnt work on the desire anyway.
 
Other issue you've got is a debranded phone won't (currently) accept OTA updates so you'd need to temproot>backup>flash new RUU>restore each time a new update is available
 
EddyOS said:
Other issue you've got is a debranded phone won't (currently) accept OTA updates so you'd need to temproot>backup>flash new RUU>restore each time a new update is available
Click to expand...


Still not sure on this one. It was first realised on the 2.29.405.5 OTA. if it turns out it was deliberate, then yes agree but there haven't been any more OTA's to confirm there is a trend.

However, I believe it is deliberate as HTC do care if you debrand and someone here once posted that warranty is affected when debranded. he was alledgedly a HTC tech.
 
Thank you. I'm not a registered user so I'll have to leave it downloading overnight. Cheers!
 
You don't need to be registered to use a MultiUpload link, choose the MegaUpload one and you should still max out (I get 800KB/sec from MU)
 
Hi again,

Sorry for the long delay. My BB provider throttles downloads from all the sites that provide RUUs so I eventually just decided to take my laptop to a friends and do it there.

But anyhoo, just to let you know, all went well and my Desire is now happily unbranded and unlocked (well always was unlocked). Thank you all for your help. May take the plunge and install a custom ROM in the future!
 
Sorry, just a few follow up qs :o

1. Is the GoldCard reqd for future flashes or now that generic firmware is installed can I run any RUU I wish?
2. If the GoldCard is reqd for future flashes, does the existing one work or do I need to create a new one each time I flash (ie does it take info from existing firmware)?
3. If the GoldCard is needed and I can use the existing one, does it need to stay on the SD card, or can I just keep the image on the hard drive and use the GoldCard Utility to recreate the actual GoldCard as and when reqd (ie should I just keep this SD card in a box somewhere)?
4. When I previously booted the handset after a reset, it asked if I wanted O2 Pay Monthly or PAYG APNs, obviously as it was O2 branded firmware. With the generic firmware if asks for O2 PM, O2 PAYG, or Tesco. I would have thought it would've either asked for none and I had to input them manually, or it would offer all UK networks that carry the Desire. Or is it picking up some info from the SIM and as Tesco use O2's network it is offering it up as well?

Thank you again!
 
Hello Meh,

Having done this myself on an O2 branded phone in the last few days so know how you feel :-)

1.) You will need the goldcard for any future updates either by RUU or for OTA downloads.

2.) The card you have created will work again - no need to make a new one every time.

3.) I may be wrong on this (no doubt one of the more knowledgeable chaps will correct me if needed) - Once a gold card is created, it remains a goldcard forever. You can of course continue to use this as an every day card - as I do.

4.) I have been trying out several SIM cards since the re-flash, so the APN data is read from the card that is currently installed. i.e if you remove the o2 one and place a 3 one in, it will pick up the new settings. Once you reboot, it will pop up a notification for you to select the new APN.

Hope this helps. :)
 
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Many thanks for your reply Dave. I'm picking up some SIMs later to test out coverage in my usual haunts. Cheers for your help.
 
Ravin Dave said:
I may be wrong on this (no doubt one of the more knowledgeable chaps will correct me if needed) - Once a gold card is created, it remains a goldcard forever. You can of course continue to use this as an every day card - as I do.
Click to expand...

Yes, formatting the card will not remove its goldness.

However, If you partition an SD card (only required if you're rooted and running a2sd+), this removes its goldicity
 
SUroot said:
Yes, formatting the card will not remove its goldness.

However, If you partition an SD card (only required if you're rooted and running a2sd+), this removes its goldicity
Click to expand...

Would you be able to elaborate please?

If I format the GoldCard in the handset, and use it for everyday use in the phone, it remains Gold even though the GoldCard.img isn't on it and I can run another RUU?

Or do I need to put the original GoldCard.img back on it (it's still on my hard drive) via the GoldCard Tool to regoldify it? I saw in another thread you mentioned that the GoldCard is unique to the SD card.

In order to keep the GoldCard safe, do I need to put it away in a box and use another SD card in the handset?

Or can I just format the SD card and it remains Gold?

Or can I format the SD card, and when I require a GoldCard, connect it to my laptop, and run the GoldCard Tool and load the existing GoldCard.img from the hard drive back on the SD card?

Sorry if these are numpty questions!
 
You can format the sd card and it remains gold.

The goldcard.img is not a file like myphoto.jpg that gets deleted with a format. Its written to the card differently.

But yes, you can use that same goldcardimg to re-goldify the card (as long as it is the SAME card as it is unique to the card)
 
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