Leslie Ann
Android Expert
Here it is...
This will document how to more or less turn your phone into a Sprint Evo 3D with all the best parts. The purpose of this is to reduce signal fluctuations, increase signal strength, and allow you to run almost any Virgin or Sprint rom, old or new with as few issues as possible. MMS, phone, everything works, exactly as it should.
So how good is it? It's a whole new phone compared to what it was, and that is without changing roms. The original phone was good, with a rom it was better. With these and a rom, it works like you expect a high end phone to work.
Please note that this is not entirely my own work, much of it was derived from the work of others, including Chad Goodman (of Anthrax Kernel fame), Krowley3, Jcfunk, Gamikzone, and Unknownforce. There were also many involved in testing and advice. I did a lot of the research, testing and compiled it all together as one, but I was far from alone in this.
What we will change here are:
ENG Hboot 1.04 - allows other roms and needed for the radio flash. Engineering hboot, more recovery options, less restrictions.
PRI 2.17.651 - fixes some fluctuations, increases radio strength. This will show up as 1.53_145 in about phone.
Radio 0.97.10.0530 - fixes some fluctuations, increases radio strength. (Updated, much better!)
PRL 60690 - Updates the list of towers you can connect to (Optional but highly recommended).
Note: You can change to any Hboot once you are done with the radio, and PRI flashing.
Prerequisits:
1. A good backup! DUH! I recommend using Titanium Backup or Mybackup Pro, as well as a Nandroid (recovery) backup.
2. A backup of your backup... Keeping a backup only on your phone is like backing up your computer to your computer. Worthless.
3. You need to be Root and S-off.
A note on cables...
The use of a USB 3.0 cable has been problematic. Cheap USB 2.0 cables have also created issues. Use the stock cable if you have it.
Warning!!!!!
1. As usual, I try my best to make things as foolproof as possible, but things happen, do this at your own risk.
2. Using the stock rom has been known to cause boot loops, and it is HIGHLY recommended that you install Harmoniaor Midnight rom before you change the Hboot. Cm9, MIUI, etc. will not work as they are not Sense based and do not have a diagnostic mode. Midnight uses a newer Anthrax kernel and it's optimized for newer Hboots and may be causing issues, as such i have removed it from the prerequisits. Remember you can always switch to a different Hboot when finished and move to any rom you want.
3. It is highly advised that you backup, but this goes double if you are completely stock. EXPECT to lose everything.
4. If you are on a completely stock rom, when you swap the hboot, your phone will fail to boot. Reinstalling the stock rom or and whatever you were using (wipe dalvik and cache only) should fix it without losing data. However, if you were smart you made the proper backups and can use any rom.
Downloads: (All have been modded numerically to fake our hboot and work with our phones)
PRI - MD5 - 026b0d970b06fe9db88873e375ccbf74 (do not decompress this!)
Hboot - md5 - 99df68934deb03cfcec63d7b1b9cb97b (do not decompress this!)
Radio - md5 - 0ab6aeb4ca9421d5ea8e9ced722554bc (do not decompress this!)
PRL 60690 - md5 - 9dc62e1a8e0991d5bd925c8b5852fa1f (needs to be extracted)
QPST (only needed for PRL)
HTC diagnostic drivers - You should have them by the time you are s-off, but if not, they are here, includes step by step install.
Hboot, Radio and PRI install
We start with the Hboot, since it is needed for the radio.
NOTE/WARNING!!!!!!!!!!: Notice all three files have the EXACT same name.
You cannot use subfolders, you cannot rename them, you cannot do anything except have one of these files on your sdcard at a time. Do not think you are smart by trying to find a way around this, you can't. For the hard headed, this means copy ONE FILE, flash it, then go back and copy the next file and flash it. ONE AT A TIME.
1. Copy the Hboot PG86IMG.zip to your sdcard (the root of it). Do not decompress it, copy it as is.
You can change to any Hboot once you are done. Some roms prefer newer, some prefer older. It will not effect anything else.
2 If you are in Android, you need to reboot into Bootloader, then select Bootloader. If your phone is turned off, hold vol down, and power and it will go straight into Bootloader.
3. Boot to your homescreen.
4. Using the same procedure, do the same as above for the radio and PRI. Order shouldn't matter. Again, one file at a time.
Don't freak out if after you do these, that your phone boots up, then restarts once or twice. It needs a reboot or two to stabilize.
PRL (optional) is a bit more in depth.
This seems to be a pain in the neck for most, however posting the diag drivers above may help. If you can't get it, don't stress as this is optional and usually has the least effect of all of these.
1. Disable debugging on your device (settings, developer options) and connect it to your computer
2. Install QPST
3. Open "QPST Configuration" in the "QPST" folder under Programs
4. Dial ##3424#
5. Click on the “Ports” tab and “Add a new port”, select it based on what your phone connected as. You should find it easily enough.
6. In the top menu, select “Start Clients” and open Service Programming.
7. Select your device
8. Select "Read from Phone". I will ask for your MSL code. If you don't have it, search the Play Store for MSL Reader, it should be the first result. It will tell you your MSL).
9. Go to the "Roam" tab
10. Click Browse and find your PRL file (you will need to unzip it).
11. Select Write to phone, once it reboots, you are are done. Sometimes this generates an error as it finishes, ignore it, it still worked (you can verify in "about phone".
Enjoy your "new" phone.
If you haven't already, install a new rom, and really enjoy what your phone can do.
I recommend Harmonia, but then, I am a little biased.
Changes:
6Nov12
Radio link fixed
28Oct12
Changed info regarding Midnight and cables.
27 Oct12
Added diag drivers and comment about Hboot.
26Aug12
Replaced 2 lines and updated radio
Radio 1.13.652 - fixes some fluctuations, increases radio strength.
Radio - md5 - 58a1de80fc137bf437c1edd5f447a2ac (do not decompress this!)
This will document how to more or less turn your phone into a Sprint Evo 3D with all the best parts. The purpose of this is to reduce signal fluctuations, increase signal strength, and allow you to run almost any Virgin or Sprint rom, old or new with as few issues as possible. MMS, phone, everything works, exactly as it should.
So how good is it? It's a whole new phone compared to what it was, and that is without changing roms. The original phone was good, with a rom it was better. With these and a rom, it works like you expect a high end phone to work.
Please note that this is not entirely my own work, much of it was derived from the work of others, including Chad Goodman (of Anthrax Kernel fame), Krowley3, Jcfunk, Gamikzone, and Unknownforce. There were also many involved in testing and advice. I did a lot of the research, testing and compiled it all together as one, but I was far from alone in this.
What we will change here are:
ENG Hboot 1.04 - allows other roms and needed for the radio flash. Engineering hboot, more recovery options, less restrictions.
PRI 2.17.651 - fixes some fluctuations, increases radio strength. This will show up as 1.53_145 in about phone.
Radio 0.97.10.0530 - fixes some fluctuations, increases radio strength. (Updated, much better!)
PRL 60690 - Updates the list of towers you can connect to (Optional but highly recommended).
Note: You can change to any Hboot once you are done with the radio, and PRI flashing.
Prerequisits:
1. A good backup! DUH! I recommend using Titanium Backup or Mybackup Pro, as well as a Nandroid (recovery) backup.
2. A backup of your backup... Keeping a backup only on your phone is like backing up your computer to your computer. Worthless.
3. You need to be Root and S-off.
A note on cables...
The use of a USB 3.0 cable has been problematic. Cheap USB 2.0 cables have also created issues. Use the stock cable if you have it.
Warning!!!!!
1. As usual, I try my best to make things as foolproof as possible, but things happen, do this at your own risk.
2. Using the stock rom has been known to cause boot loops, and it is HIGHLY recommended that you install Harmonia
3. It is highly advised that you backup, but this goes double if you are completely stock. EXPECT to lose everything.
4. If you are on a completely stock rom, when you swap the hboot, your phone will fail to boot. Reinstalling the stock rom or and whatever you were using (wipe dalvik and cache only) should fix it without losing data. However, if you were smart you made the proper backups and can use any rom.
Downloads: (All have been modded numerically to fake our hboot and work with our phones)
PRI - MD5 - 026b0d970b06fe9db88873e375ccbf74 (do not decompress this!)
Hboot - md5 - 99df68934deb03cfcec63d7b1b9cb97b (do not decompress this!)
Radio - md5 - 0ab6aeb4ca9421d5ea8e9ced722554bc (do not decompress this!)
PRL 60690 - md5 - 9dc62e1a8e0991d5bd925c8b5852fa1f (needs to be extracted)
QPST (only needed for PRL)
HTC diagnostic drivers - You should have them by the time you are s-off, but if not, they are here, includes step by step install.
Hboot, Radio and PRI install
We start with the Hboot, since it is needed for the radio.
NOTE/WARNING!!!!!!!!!!: Notice all three files have the EXACT same name.
You cannot use subfolders, you cannot rename them, you cannot do anything except have one of these files on your sdcard at a time. Do not think you are smart by trying to find a way around this, you can't. For the hard headed, this means copy ONE FILE, flash it, then go back and copy the next file and flash it. ONE AT A TIME.
1. Copy the Hboot PG86IMG.zip to your sdcard (the root of it). Do not decompress it, copy it as is.
You can change to any Hboot once you are done. Some roms prefer newer, some prefer older. It will not effect anything else.
2 If you are in Android, you need to reboot into Bootloader, then select Bootloader. If your phone is turned off, hold vol down, and power and it will go straight into Bootloader.
3. Boot to your homescreen.
4. Using the same procedure, do the same as above for the radio and PRI. Order shouldn't matter. Again, one file at a time.
Don't freak out if after you do these, that your phone boots up, then restarts once or twice. It needs a reboot or two to stabilize.
PRL (optional) is a bit more in depth.
This seems to be a pain in the neck for most, however posting the diag drivers above may help. If you can't get it, don't stress as this is optional and usually has the least effect of all of these.
1. Disable debugging on your device (settings, developer options) and connect it to your computer
2. Install QPST
3. Open "QPST Configuration" in the "QPST" folder under Programs
4. Dial ##3424#
5. Click on the “Ports” tab and “Add a new port”, select it based on what your phone connected as. You should find it easily enough.
6. In the top menu, select “Start Clients” and open Service Programming.
7. Select your device
8. Select "Read from Phone". I will ask for your MSL code. If you don't have it, search the Play Store for MSL Reader, it should be the first result. It will tell you your MSL).
9. Go to the "Roam" tab
10. Click Browse and find your PRL file (you will need to unzip it).
11. Select Write to phone, once it reboots, you are are done. Sometimes this generates an error as it finishes, ignore it, it still worked (you can verify in "about phone".
Enjoy your "new" phone.
If you haven't already, install a new rom, and really enjoy what your phone can do.
I recommend Harmonia, but then, I am a little biased.
Changes:
6Nov12
Radio link fixed
28Oct12
Changed info regarding Midnight and cables.
27 Oct12
Added diag drivers and comment about Hboot.
26Aug12
Replaced 2 lines and updated radio
Radio 1.13.652 - fixes some fluctuations, increases radio strength.
Radio - md5 - 58a1de80fc137bf437c1edd5f447a2ac (do not decompress this!)