[Q] Nandroid Backup before debranding - Legend General

I got an HTC Legend from Vodafone UK about a month ago, and I want to remove the Vodafone branding (especially since Vodafone seem to intent on adding rubbish to their branded phones at the moment - you only have to look at what they've just pushed out to the Samsung Galaxy S).
I'm happy with creating a Goldcard, but I've got a couple of questions:
Is it possible to make a Nandroid backup of the branded ROM currently on my device so that in the case of a fault I stand a chance of being able to restore the branded firmware so I can get the device repaired under warranty?
I'm fairly certain I will, but can someone confirm that I'll get OTA updates from HTC as and when they get released?
Many thanks!

IceFreak2000 said:
I got an HTC Legend from Vodafone UK about a month ago, and I want to remove the Vodafone branding (especially since Vodafone seem to intent on adding rubbish to their branded phones at the moment - you only have to look at what they've just pushed out to the Samsung Galaxy S).
I'm happy with creating a Goldcard, but I've got a couple of questions:
Is it possible to make a Nandroid backup of the branded ROM currently on my device so that in the case of a fault I stand a chance of being able to restore the branded firmware so I can get the device repaired under warranty?
I'm fairly certain I will, but can someone confirm that I'll get OTA updates from HTC as and when they get released?
Many thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nandroid backup not possible without a recovery partition which can be loaded only on rooted phone
However, you can always flash back a Vodaphone RUU if needed
http://shipped-roms.com/index.php?category=android&model=Legend
Direct link:
RUU_Legend_Vodafone_UK_1.32.161.4_R_Radio_47.26.35.04_7.05.35.26L_release_126590_signed.exe
For point 2, yes you'll get OTA, depending on which version you install and your SN (and of course if there's a newer version) it may take more or less time before you get it

Related

No HD2 Rom Upgrade With T-mobile

Hi,
I have just bought a HTC HD2 from T-mobile to realise I can't upgrade the ROM through the official HTC website.
I would like to know from Virgin Costumers whether they have tried to upgrade the ROM of their HTC HD2 through the Official HTC website and whether it worked.
I am asking this because I am still on the trial period and also because of warranty issues if I try to upgrade trough another route apart from the T-mobile's...
So, the question is...
Have you got a HTC HD2 from virgin? Have you upgrade the ROM through the HTC website?
If it's vendor locked you'll need to flash HSPL to install a stock or custom ROM...see this thread for details:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=609477
If I do install another ROM they say I loose the warranty...
As I still am in the trial period I could just return the mobile. But for this I need to know whether the HTC HD2 from virging is also branded or not... So I can go and get one from them and do the upgrades myself through HTC website... Withought loosing any warranty.
You can revert back to the original SPL/ROM if you need to return it for any reason...
As for the Virgin HD2, only way is putting the S/N into the ROM download page on HTCs support site and see if it allows a download. If not, it's locked
There's at least a dozen of threads about it. Don't be lazy and use search!
You won't loose the warranty, you can flash the phone back to it's original state in case you need to send it back for repairs.
You can download the original T-Mobile ROM from in here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=577717 so you can always go back if you need warranty work! I was reluctant to flash, but I did it from the original T-Mobile ROM and it has transfromed my HD2... I'm using MIRI 6.5 ROM and it is awesome, fast, stable, more RAM (with the right radio) and best of all, Youtube... GO ahead and do it. You think the HD2 is good now, wait until you unleash some of it's real potential....
Yes, that is why I am asking if there is someone who is a virgin costumer to help me with this...
I need to know if they have tried and what the outcome was.
About the warranty... The problem is that if I upgrade to another ROM and the mobile has a hardware fault that doesn't allow me to downgrade to the original ROM I suppose I would loose the warranty. This is a risk I may not want to take...
I have been talking to the tmobile technical people a lot after I realised I couldn't upgrade to a new ROM via HTC... Very annoying to know it is not possible whatsoever.
and as proof, I flashed mine back to the original ROM earlier this week. Search the ROM forum for posts by a member called 'football' who posted links to the TMo UK ROMs.
The flash back to the original ROM worked just fine, BUT it's a rubbish ROM so I'm back on 1.66
lol @ everyone pushing for the HSPL option, , , , lets not forget you cant uninstal HSPL if, for instance, the sd card reader has failed, , how would you get that fixed on warranty??
I'm not knocking it, HSPL is the first thing i did, just pointing out that restoring the warranty isn't foolproof.
in this post here a virgin user claims the phone is unlocked to the HTC website.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=632892
I didn't want to cause such turmoil...
Just want to know, from a Virgin customer, if they have managed to install the ROM update through the HTC website... if when they add their mobile serial number they are given the download option or they are barred with this message: "Sorry, this software download is not suitable for your device."
Thanks guys for the help
My son is on Virgin and his is unlocked out of the box I'am on T-Mobile (locked ) ) I am still deciding whether to update to one of the new roms on xda del. or hang out for an official rom from T-Mobile. Which I believe will be released soon with a big?????.
samsamuel said:
lol @ everyone pushing for the HSPL option, , , , lets not forget you cant uninstal HSPL if, for instance, the sd card reader has failed, , how would you get that fixed on warranty??
I'm not knocking it, HSPL is the first thing i did, just pointing out that restoring the warranty isn't foolproof.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a flash fail this week. When I started the phone it booted to a black screen with some sort of warning triangle. Somehow HSPL had been removed in the botched flash and the SPL was back to 1.42.000, so putting a LEOIMG.nbh on my SD card just resulted in a 'Not Allowed' message being displayed.
However, I was still able to reflash the original TMo ROM from my PC via USB using the exe that you can find on the ROM forum. I would expect that this will only work with the exe for a ROM issued by your network though, so make sure you have that saved before you flash anything.
DavidC1980 said:
Somehow HSPL had been removed in the botched flash and the SPL was back to 1.42.000,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No doubt you flashed an official rom from the sd card, that is the only way HSPL can be removed. I really really advise people against using sd card for anything except your phones original rom. So easy to make an error.
Virgin UK HD2 is unlocked
I am a Virgin UK customer and my HD2 is indeed unlocked. When I first boot I had to select Virgin Mobile from a long list that included all the major carriers. I have no problems in updating ROMS. Their customer support is without doubt the best I have ever experienced. I do not work for them. My brother is with T-Mobile, his phone is locked down with Crap software. I am SOOOO glad I am not with them. Just check their forums. They are still on ROM 1.43 from october... no YouTube... other stuff missing and buggy... Disgrace.
Original poster: if you want the phone on contract from T-Mobile but unbranded, you could buy it through some third-party mobile-phone store chain like Car Phone Warehouse or Mobile Phones Direct. Their phones are all unbranded.
If you want to install the HTC ROM without using HSPL you could always use a gold card to flash it.
constructorx said:
I am a Virgin UK customer and my HD2 is indeed unlocked. When I first boot I had to select Virgin Mobile from a long list that included all the major carriers. I have no problems in updating ROMS. Their customer support is without doubt the best I have ever experienced. I do not work for them. My brother is with T-Mobile, his phone is locked down with Crap software. I am SOOOO glad I am not with them. Just check their forums. They are still on ROM 1.43 from october... no YouTube... other stuff missing and buggy... Disgrace.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I must agree with the above. I am with T-Mobile, got my HD2 at the end of January and it had ROM 1.43. They also stripped out YouTube and Co-Pilot! I downloaded a poor-man's version of YouTube as discussed in other threads (i.e. using the IE browser on the phone to download the cab file) and thought I was cool, but with T-Mobile taking an age to release the update ROM (I have heard March, but I wouldn't hold my breath!) I decided to use HSPL and update to 1.66 from the HTC website. Best decision I made!
Not only are all the little bugs fixed, I know have the 'proper' YouTube app back (beautiful!), Co-Pilot (trial version) plus a Windows Task Manager app (very useful!).
I did alot of reading before taking the plunge though, and made backups of backups, had a roll-back plan (admittedly untested) and followed each stage implicitly! But it was very striaghtforward due to the guys on this forum doing a fantastic job!
I never made one call on my T-Mobile HD2 before I flashed over to stock HTC ROM.
Years of HTC devices and operators ROMS told me not to wait until later!
bocsta said:
I never made one call on my T-Mobile HD2 before I flashed over to stock HTC ROM.
Years of HTC devices and operators ROMS told me not to wait until later!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did exactly the same!
As soon as I turned it on and saw that horrid T-Mobile logo, I turned it off again and flashed it with the HTC WWE Rom

Differences between Unlocked Device from Factory vs Unlocked via IMEI code

Hello,
I'm planning to buy a DHD but I can have it from expansys Factory unlocked or from a Mobile Operator Company and then unlocked via IMEI code, my question is is any difference? or advantage or if I unlock the DHD at the end both of them will be exactly the same functionality?
Thanks and sorry for my silly question
Marioaguado said:
Hello,
I'm planning to buy a DHD but I can have it from expansys Factory unlocked or from a Mobile Operator Company and then unlocked via IMEI code, my question is is any difference? or advantage or if I unlock the DHD at the end both of them will be exactly the same functionality?
Thanks and sorry for my silly question
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only difference would be whether the mobile operator has put on branding on the software.
sorry but what it means put on branding? like what? Thanks
Marioaguado said:
sorry but what it means put on branding? like what? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
like a stupid bootlogo, like silly "apps" that just link to their website, etc - BLOATWARE
Ok thanks, but at the end I will receive the updates via HTC no from the Operator?
Thanks guys
from my experience with sony erricsons, there is a "license" within the phones software which determines the unlock status with a red license being in a locked state, blue being factory unlocked, brown being reasearch and development, etc
i dont know if its the same thing, or if it is an analygous system with androids
If you have an Orange branded DHD, for example, you would normally have to wait for Orange to issue an update.
Android Release Timeline
Google --Develop--> HTC --Modify--> Orange --Ruin--> You
However, if you root your DHD, S-OFF & flash custom recovery you will get updates much quicker, albeit officially unsupported by HTC.
Marioaguado said:
Ok thanks, but at the end I will receive the updates via HTC no from the Operator?
Thanks guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the Touch HD (WM device) the updates for the IMEI unlocked phones had to be from the operator and not from HTC. Maybe it's the same with Android phones...
tkolev said:
With the Touch HD (WM device) the updates for the IMEI unlocked phones had to be from the operator and not from HTC. Maybe it's the same with Android phones...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They come from the operator once they have modified the stock HTC ROMs. So if you buy from a network operator and the phone is branded, you will most probably have to wait for updates, unless you debrand it.
I am buying a New SGS 2, the seller has told me that its factory Unlocked, but I have my doubts that he has De-branded the phone and selling with the name of Factory Unlocked.
Can someone tell me, how would I know if the Seller has Sold me a Debranded phone or a factory Unlocked one?
1.) don't necro threads
2.) this is the DHD forum, it would be better if you post in the SGS2 forum.
btt:
when you use it, there won't be any difference between the factory unlocked and debranded, since you put a factory unlocked ROM on your phone when you debrand it.
BUT it's possible that your warranty is void now since modifying the software isn't covered by warranty. but i'm not sure about that.

Debranding

Today I bought a Wildfire that has a branded OS by Telstra, I don't like a lot of the extras and startup screens and junk that is there. So I rooted the phone and flashed it with that popular Puzzlerom but I didn't really like it so I recovered back to my original from a backup. Is there anyway for me to flash it with the latest official ROM from HTC or get rid of the branding on my current Telstra ROM?
So I've done some searching, I found some references to getting the official HTC ROM from Shipped-ROMS. I couldn't find anything on the website, but when looking at the website index directories I found the Buzz folder but I don't know which HTC ROM to download. I want the latest one and I'm not really sure what the difference in versions numbers are as there are so many and all of them are pre-dated before the 2.2 release and I don't know if there is a difference in Radios and I don't want to upgrade to the latest version and have my phone not picking up reception and not being able to possibly revert it as I don't know if 2.2 is rootable.
I'm also unsure If I can simply run the official WWE .exe if my phone is rooted without some kind of corruption.
If somebody could give me a quick guide or point me to a thread which could help.
In a nut shell my situation is:
Telstra Branded Firmware Version: 2.1-update1.
Software number: 1.21.841.3
Kernal: 2.6.28-543e5f81
Rooted
Need to unbrand and get latest official HTC rom.
I too am interested in a fix for this?
cheers
Turns out I'm actually really stupid.
In the Development subforum people post the official ROM and safe .zip versions of it too -_-.
Debrand Telstra Wildfire
Am curious about doing this the Telstra firmware is quite annoying not to mention god knows when Android 2.2 will become available. I have tried all the RUU update i can find none work, get either error 130 or 140... main problem seems to be the model id of my phone is incorrect. I currently have 2.1-update1, baseband 13.55.55.24H_3.35.20.10, software number 1.30.841.1. Anyone got any ideas how to get rid of the Telstra firmware in favour of the standard HTC?
chrisj9898 said:
Am curious about doing this the Telstra firmware is quite annoying not to mention god knows when Android 2.2 will become available. I have tried all the RUU update i can find none work, get either error 130 or 140... main problem seems to be the model id of my phone is incorrect. I currently have 2.1-update1, baseband 13.55.55.24H_3.35.20.10, software number 1.30.841.1. Anyone got any ideas how to get rid of the Telstra firmware in favour of the standard HTC?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.shipped-roms.com/downloa...5.55.24H_3.35.20.10_release_160191_signed.exe
have you tried this one?
Its Froyo by the way
Or browse in here:
http://www.shipped-roms.com/index.php?category=windows mobile&model=Buzz
I bought a Telstra Wildfire before Xmas and used the follwoing procedure to debrand it to a stock HTC ROM.
The Wildfire came with ROM ver 1.21. I upgraded it to 1.37. See http://shipped-roms.com/shipped/Buzz/ for a list of the HTC roms. I used http://shipped-roms.com/shipped/Buz...3.55.24H_3.35.19.25_release_151892_signed.exe as it is the most recent one that can still be rooted. The next one is Froyo (http://shipped-roms.com/shipped/Buz...5.55.24H_3.35.20.10_release_160191_signed.exe) however if you flash this one you will not be able to root it unless someone works out how to at some time in the future.
Firstly you will need to root the phone using Unrevoked (http://unrevoked.com/#wildfire).
Secondly create a goldcard (http://android.modaco.com/content/software/308798/pc-application-goldcardtool/)
The goldcard is necessary as, even though the phone has been rooted, the upgrade program will note that the CID in the phone is for Telstra and you are installing a non-Telstra ROM. You will get an error without the goldcard. The goldcard will override this detection and allow stock HTC and custom ROMS to be installed on your phone. Once you have installed the new stock HTC ROM using the goldcard, the goldcard will not be required for future stock ROM upgrades. It may not be required for upgrades to custom ROMS either but someone else may be able to verify this as I have not tried them.
Some people have had trouble getting the goldcard to work using thrid party SD cards. If you use the one that came with the phone you will not have trouble. The only problem with this is, as part of the unrevoked rooting, you will probably have done an nandroid backup which will dump backup files on the card so that you can restore your original ROM if you wish. I skipped this backup as shippedroms has the standard Tesltra 1.21 rom on their site (http://shipped-roms.com/shipped/Buz...45.55.24_3.35.15.31_release_138758_signed.exe) so that you can restore the phone to standard if required.
Thirdly, install the stock ROM (http://shipped-roms.com/shipped/Buz...3.55.24H_3.35.19.25_release_151892_signed.exe) with the goldcard in the phone.
This will unroot your phone but you can re-root it again as you did in the first step above.
You can upgrade to Froyo but read the posts under the Wildfire Android Development section of these forums so that you understand the disadvantages of doing so. Many have been to quick to upgarde and have been caught out!
I am going to wait until unrevoked can root Froyo before I install it.
Has anyone tested that the phone can still communicate at 850mhz after running this process?
The phone I ran this on still works at 2100mhz, but lost 850mhz, which more renders a Telstra wildfire useless (Unless you're a city dweller with ample 2100 coverage)
Is it possible that the radio firmware flashed in with the european image (which is of course designed for the 900/2100 radio) does not work properly with the hardwre in this phone? I've done a lot of searching on this subject and have come up completely empty!
Hey guys,
I bought Eclair Wildfire Telstra-branded only weeks ago, straight away rooted it and installed Sunaabh ROM (a stable, stock-like Froyo ROM). Apart from Telstra splash screen (unable to remove because we have S-On) it is debranded of course. I dunno what you mean about the radio stuff, but I live in faaaaarrrr west Sydney (Wallacia) which is pretty much country and I get 3G. Is that full NextG speed...? I really don't know!
Do NOT install official 2.2 update! It will remove root and install the new, currently unrootable HBOOT!
EDIT: What is this goldcard nonsense? Do your research! Unrevoked3 installs the Clockworkmod recovery and you can then flash ANYTHING.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using Tapatalk
I think by now I can say there's 2 ways of debranding a Wildfire A3335:
What I did (don't do this anyone else!):
* Run a stock RUU. Fully fully debrands it (No telstra logos anywhere). Also replaces the radio firmware with an eurpoean version and destroys your phone's rural (850mhz) coverage
What you did (and what I should have done):
* Just replace the ROM. Leave the Radio firmware in place: End result: You still have a phone that works on 850mhz but you've also got an annoying telstra boot screen, and there's not a damn thing that can be done about it until S-OFF is figured out for Wildfire.
jonusc said:
Hey guys,
EDIT: What is this goldcard nonsense? Do your research! Unrevoked3 installs the Clockworkmod recovery and you can then flash ANYTHING.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Goldcard is for people who choose to run the HTC RUU upgrade process, as described by lemming999. As you just reflashed your ROM, it is expected that you would not require a Goldcard.
As per my post above. *** Do not run this unless you really don't care about your rural coverage ***
Ok - I've posted a solution for getting 850MHz 3G back again for anyone silly enough to do what I did. Read here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=11559059#post11559059
inaxeon said:
Ok - I've posted a solution for getting 850MHz 3G back again for anyone silly enough to do what I did. Read here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=11559059#post11559059
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it possible that you have S-OFF as a result of flashing an RUU? I assume no, because there are no RUU packages which have an "Engineering" SPL included... right?
What about SIMLOCK? True debranding should remove the CID if you can share whether you can use non Telstra SIM cards now, I may pursue the Goldcard/RUU process myself!
I don't have S-OFF at the end of this. But the HTC RUU does have the ability by some means of magic to COMPLETELY debrand the phone (including the first boot screen) and ruin your radio in the process.
So now that I've managed to restore the Telstra radio, I have have a 100% unbranded, fully working A3335 while most people tend to be stuck with the telstra logo at the SPL.
If S-OFF was obtainable on wildfire I think this process would be a lot easier but I got the desired result in the end. Reflashing the radio is pretty dodgy. I've avoid it as if it goes wrong. Your phone is a doorstop.
jonusc said:
What about SIMLOCK? True debranding should remove the CID if you can share whether you can use non Telstra SIM cards now, I may pursue the Goldcard/RUU process myself!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes non telstra SIM cards work. Although, I bought the phone unlocked so I don't know how this came about. as for the CID, it may remain, it may not. I don't know how to tell. There's a fairly good chance it was nuked when I flashed with the Euro RUU.
Fair enough, thanks for the detail. I'm not fussed on SIMLOCK (no vodafone coverage out here anyway), was just curious.
In regards to s-off, it is determined by SPL which AFAIK every RUU has. But again, every PUBLIC RUU would have nandlock. But there are some Wildfire users here who do have s-off, and say they don't remember how they did it (they never noticed until down the track). Odd.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using Tapatalk

Removing branded start-up logo? (Samsung Omnia 7)

Hi all, new here
I'm in Australia with the Samsung Omnia 7.
I bought phone online from someone who won it in an Optus competition (Optus being the carrier here).
The phone is unlocked to any network but for about 3-5 seconds upon the phones startup, there is a branded Optus logo that is displayed.
I want it GONE.
What's the best way to do this? I'm running the original firmware, not the new leaked one. I'm also not game to flash to the leaked newer firmware as Samsung hasn't released it officially and I've heard some Aussies have had some issues after doing it.
What's the safest way I can remove this start-up logo branding? Thanks!
change to a different firmware, vol up+camera+power button > download mode> samfirmwares.com firmware(unbranded)! Thats currently the only possibility.
What about by editing a registry entry or something?
I'm not prepared to "upgrade" to that firmware until Samsung releases it (if they do).
They probably haven't for a reason.
try chevron unlocker, install registry explorer search and share!
Is chevron unlocker going to change something about my device I can't reverse? I want full control of any testing I do.
sorry for late reply, the firmware file consists of lot parts (Phone, csc,eboot,pda), modifying a specific file in the archive may remove the startup logo.Just search wiki for answers about the significance of each part.Or better still, wait for the update release by MS see if it changes anything! Chevron won't help!
Most users have upgraded to the firmware available at samfirmware.com I too running omnia 7 t-mobile uk version unbranded by downloading I8700XENJK1. Have had no issues so far!
Any updates on this with new unlocking methods etc..?
I'd really like that start up pic gone if I can!
Gp. said:
Any updates on this with new unlocking methods etc..?
I'd really like that start up pic gone if I can!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, like has already been said, the only way to get rid of this is to re-flash the device. You should be able to only flash parts of it though which would leave the OS (and all apps, settings etc) intact. I'm guessing it's the bootloader image that includes the logo you're seeing, so would start there.
emigrating said:
No, like has already been said, the only way to get rid of this is to re-flash the device. You should be able to only flash parts of it though which would leave the OS (and all apps, settings etc) intact. I'm guessing it's the bootloader image that includes the logo you're seeing, so would start there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have anyway to do this? There's no tool I've heard of which can replace specific parts of the ROM?
It's a full reflash or nothing, I think.
Casey
Casey_boy said:
Do you have anyway to do this? There's no tool I've heard of which can replace specific parts of the ROM?
It's a full reflash or nothing, I think.
Casey
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For now it is. Even with WinMo 6.5 we had to flash the 2nd start up screen. Then we had full access to the core of OS. Right now we dont. So only way to get rid of it is to flash a brand free rom issue by samsung and not a carrier
Any updates on this now?
Anyone know a registry key that is associated with the start up logo?
evolutionqy7 said:
For now it is. Even with WinMo 6.5 we had to flash the 2nd start up screen. Then we had full access to the core of OS. Right now we dont. So only way to get rid of it is to flash a brand free rom issue by samsung and not a carrier
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you absolutely certain about this? The ROM comes in parts and I would assume we could flash only part 1 or 2 if we so wanted?
Gp. said:
Any updates on this now?
Anyone know a registry key that is associated with the start up logo?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There IS NO registry key for this. The boot logo is displayed long before the OS has even started booting.
I've also installed the firmware from samfirmware.com and I've had no issues at all. I've managed to update to Pre-NODO and NODO without any pain (apart from having to use the Hungarian Hack to get NODO early).
I've seen no downsides from my perspective.
The only risk I can see is that no carriers will have tested WP7 against this firmware until it's officially released by Samsung.
if you have a 4.10.1.9 bootloader, there's no possibility to change your rom....forget it.
right now, this bootloader fail to upgrade... no download mode ability at omnia 7
mughalgxt said:
change to a different firmware, vol up+camera+power button > download mode> samfirmwares.com firmware(unbranded)! Thats currently the only possibility.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello everyone, Im new to the site. I too purchased, what I thought to be unbranded, a mobile over the internet that was branded with T-Mobile Germany. Im in Australia. I can use my Optus SIM Card. But what was worrying me is what affects a branded phone (especially from another country) would have on me and my usage, especially with the new Mango update.
Now unless someone can tell me that it really doesnt make any difference to how the phone will work, I want it unbranded for safety sake. That being said, my quote above, This firmware, obviously it sounds custom and not official. If I install this firmware, any Windows Update up until this point (Not Mango), will it still install via zune? and will it take on the Mango update when thats out?
Thanks guys
ChisPydtank said:
Now unless someone can tell me that it really doesnt make any difference to how the phone will work, I want it unbranded for safety sake. That being said, my quote above, This firmware, obviously it sounds custom and not official. If I install this firmware, any Windows Update up until this point (Not Mango), will it still install via zune? and will it take on the Mango update when thats out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe samfirmware just releases leaked firmware. They are therefore all "official" in a sense and the unbranded ones should just be firmware for the unbranded devices.
If you're using a branded phone, the official updates will roll out when the original carrier certifies it. Apart from that and the boot branding, there shouldn't be many differences.
ChisPydtank said:
Hello everyone, Im new to the site. I too purchased, what I thought to be unbranded, a mobile over the internet that was branded with T-Mobile Germany. Im in Australia. I can use my Optus SIM Card. But what was worrying me is what affects a branded phone (especially from another country) would have on me and my usage, especially with the new Mango update.
Now unless someone can tell me that it really doesnt make any difference to how the phone will work, I want it unbranded for safety sake. That being said, my quote above, This firmware, obviously it sounds custom and not official. If I install this firmware, any Windows Update up until this point (Not Mango), will it still install via zune? and will it take on the Mango update when thats out?
Thanks guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Branded won't make any difference to your experience. But you can flash the unbranded ROM it's easy enough and you should still get the Mango update.
So?
GP, have you gotten rid of it yet?
Sherwet said:
GP, have you gotten rid of it yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just flash an unbranded ROM dude, really easy
The second screen, the carrier logo, is simple mologo.bmp file... If you replace it with some file explorer, you are done

[Q] replacement HD2 - can't update rom with new serial no.

Virgin mobile recently replaced my HTC HD2 handset as the screen had completely frozen (after 11 months into my contract) despite soft reset, hard reset, reset to factory default and rom upgrade.
However, the rom version of the replacement handset which is a re-conditioned handset (not brand new as they were out of stock) is only 1.66.351.1 whilst the rom version of my first phone had been upgraded to 3.14.405.2.
When i enter the serial no. of the replacement handset into the HTC website, it says that the rom upgrade is n't suitable for that device ?
Although using the original rom is n't really a problem, the voice / sound of the co-pilot application which i had bought and worked fine on my first phone does n't seem to work and the twiitter app (mo-tweets) which i used on my first phone also crashes after 10 seconds of use.
Apparently later roms are supposed to be more stable and less buggy ?
Has anyone else had this problem on the HTC website of serial no's not being suitable for their HD2 handset - someone suggested that i could use my old serial number but i was afraid that it my invalidate my warranty?
From the sounds of it (someone correct me if I'm wrong) your replacement phone is branded or possibly foreign, so the ROM you're trying to download isn't suitable.
I take it there's nothing in the apps list suggesting branding of any type?
You can either try downloading some of the branded ROMs to see if you can find one which works, that will tell you what brand it's locked to.
I'm on O2 for instance, and they've yet to release a 3.14 ROM so I can't download anything higher than the O2 1.72 ROM from HTC.
I have however got hold of the generic 3.14 ROM and use the goldcard technique to load it onto my handset.
it means the handset it locked to a specific network and not unbranded so thats why you cannot use the htc site to download
thanks to both of you for your replies. I had read that some providers (O2 and Vodafone) HD2's were locked but virgin HD2 were not, indeed my original HD2 allowed the latest rom (i've still got a copy of it on my laptop).
I just don't understand why Virgin have locked the replacement (maybe because it was re-conditioned and not brand new, or perhaps its because i only have 6 months left on the contract perhaps ?)
I've also read other people who used 'other people's' serial numbers to download the rom update's from the HTC website. So, when i asked HTC support if i was allowed to used rom update that i had previously downloaded, they initially replied yes, but when i mentioned that the serial no. of the replacement gave a 'un-suitable for your device' response they asked me to call them up (rather than respond in writing)
do anyone know if i attempted to install the latest (3.14) rom onto my replacement HD2 whether ;-
a. it will actually damage the phone ?
b. whether it invalidates the HTC warranty (as the 1 year warranty from virgin runs out this month - but the HTC warranty will run for another year - although i don't want to not use Co-pilot and mo-tweets for a year)

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