Rooting Unbranded Desire

[Guest MistaJae]

Hi All,

I am now on my 3rd Android handset in 6 months (started with T-Mobile Pulse, then HTC Hero (branded G2) now HTC Desire). If it wasnt for Modaco (& XDA) I would probably have an iPhone now :D

Ok, so I managed to root my 1st 2 devices and install MCR's quite easily (with the modaco guides :lol: ), but I am really confused with the Desire!

I have an unbranded Desire with HBOOT 0.80 and rom 1.21.405.2 but all these guides and 'gold card' things are really confusing me. Rooting my G2 & Pulse didn't require anything like this. I've read through most pages of the guides and just seem to get more confused.

My questions are as follows:

1) Is creating a 'gold card' essential to rooting my unbranded Desire?

2) After rooting, Is the 'green' recovery permanently installed (for switching roms, wiping etc)?

3) What else do I need to be aware of before attempting to root?

I would really appreciate any help as I can't wait to have r3.1 installed!!!

Thanks in advance :D

[Guest EddyOS]

1. No (it says in the guide)

2. It can be, but I don't

3. I'd say use the TinyCore method to root as it's more 'failsafe' than Windows (but that's just my opinion)

[Guest MistaJae]

1. No (it says in the guide)

2. It can be, but I don't

3. I'd say use the TinyCore method to root as it's more 'failsafe' than Windows (but that's just my opinion)

Thanks for the fast response! I didn't think a gold card was needed but it is the 1st step in the guide:

The guide

Follow through these steps, one by one and at the end of it you'll have a rooted Desire with the latest ROM.

Note: This process will wipe your device and there is currently no option to backup your device ROM before you start.

* Make your microSD card into a goldcard by following these instructions (it's a good idea to back up the contents of your card first!).

* Unzip the file you downloaded to a directory, then open a command prompt / terminal window at that directory.

* Copy the 'update.zip' file to your microSD. Do NOT rename it.

* Turn off your HTC Desire, then turn it back on with the 'back' button held down. You'll see 'FASTBOOT' written on the screen in a red box. Connect the phone to the computer.

* In the terminal window, enter either 'step1-windows.bat', './step1-mac.sh' or './step1-linux.sh' as appropriate.

* Navigate to the 'BOOTLOADER' and then 'RECOVERY' option on the menu, using the volume buttons to move and the power button to select.

* When a black screen appears with a red triangle, press and hold 'Volume Up' then tap 'Power'.

* Your device should now be at the 'recovery' screen. Select the 'wipe data/factory reset' option, then select the option to 'Apply sdcard:update.zip'. This will take a little while, so go make a nice cup of tea. When the flash has finished, reboot, and you are DONE! smile.gif

Sorry if I'm being stupid, but I don't have an 'update.zip' file. Where do I start using the guide from???

Also, can TinyCore run as a virtual machine on my Mac??

[Guest EddyOS]

Pre-requisites

In order to complete this guide, you need the following...

* a HTC Desire wink.gif

* a computer running Windows (32 bit recommended, some users have reported issues with x64), OSX or Linux

* a microUSB cable

* a microSD card (to be made into a 'goldcard' - only necessary if your device is an operator supplied device)

* the downloads below

* balls of steel (actually, I just made that up) tongue.gif

Missed that bit did ya? :lol:

The update.zip is part of the package you have to download to root your handset

Edited June 29, 2010 by EddyOS

[Guest hensk]

Pre-requisites

In order to complete this guide, you need the following...

* a HTC Desire wink.gif

* a computer running Windows (32 bit recommended, some users have reported issues with x64), OSX or Linux

* a microUSB cable

* a microSD card (to be made into a 'goldcard' - only necessary if your device is an operator supplied device)

* the downloads below

* balls of steel (actually, I just made that up) tongue.gif

Missed that bit did ya? :lol:

The update.zip is part of the package you have to download to root your handset

Eddy he has unbranded Desire,he dont need "goldcard" issue

[Guest EddyOS]

I know, that's what I was highlighting!!! He was quoting the main guide and missed the bit saying you only need it if branded...maybe you should read all the posts :lol:

lol

[Guest hensk]

I know, that's what I was highlighting!!! He was quoting the main guide and missed the bit saying you only need it if branded...maybe you should read all the posts :lol:

lol

10ks m8,now I prepair for new root of my desire - with workin Modaco frf85 ROM & _Recorder_fix

I`ll also read quide

[Guest MistaJae]

Thanks EddyOS & hensk! You were both right.

I was being a bit stupid! I didn't unzip the original file to find the 'update.zip' inside... d'oh!!! I also didnt pay enough attention to that part of the guide. Guess I'm just too excited as I now have my Desire (still got my Hero just in case).

I'm going to try & root it tonight when I can concentrate properly!

Thanks again :lol:

[Guest hensk]

Thanks EddyOS & hensk! You were both right.

I was being a bit stupid! I didn't unzip the original file to find the 'update.zip' inside... d'oh!!! I also didnt pay enough attention to that part of the guide. Guess I'm just too excited as I now have my Desire (still got my Hero just in case).

I'm going to try & root it tonight when I can concentrate properly!

Thanks again :lol:

not stupid dude ,just careful

I`m also with toy from 500€

[Guest tonyep]

Some unbranded Desire still do need a gold card. If you do get an error 42 while doing step 1, then you need it. It happened for mine and some others even though it was unbranded.

[Guest MistaJae]

Ok, so I've had my 1st attempt and failed!

I followed the steps all the way to the last one.

When I got into recovery i got the message 'E:cant open /cache/recovery/command'. I can wipe the device but if i try to install the 'update.zip' i get the message 'E:signature verification failed' then 'installation aborted'

When I reboot the phone it works as normal but im not sure what went wrong???

Does this mean I need a 'gold card'?

[Guest EddyOS]

you will get that 'E:cant open /cache/recovery/command' at first, you then hold vol up and press power and it shuld then install the update file - or is that where you're stuck?

if so, try this update.zip - it's the one I use...

update.zip

[Guest MistaJae]

you will get that 'E:cant open /cache/recovery/command' at first, you then hold vol up and press power and it shuld then install the update file - or is that where you're stuck?

if so, try this update.zip - it's the one I use...

Thanks EddyOS. When i selected 'apply update.zip' it gave me the error. Holding the vol up button when selecting it seems to have worked! I now have a black screen with 2 green circular arrows, and another arrow between them pointing down to a pic of the desire. I take it this means it is installing so I'm off to make a cup of tea!

If this works the next step is r3.1... (then the long process of titanium backup restoring my hero apps)

btw, I haven't used your update.zip but thank you anyway.

I will report back shortly.....

[Guest EddyOS]

thats ok, yeah the vol up and power is what you do on the red ! screen

you then flash the rootedupdate.zip (or whatever ROM you are gonna use) and once done reboot and away you go!!

[Guest MistaJae]

SUCCESS!!!!!!

After a bit of sweating (mcr3.1 wouldnt install as I downloaded an incomplete file which was only 125mb), I'm now using MCR 3.1. HAPPY DAYS!

The process wasnt anywhere near as hard as I thought and I didnt need a gold card.

Funny thing though... after installing mcr3.1, I put my 8gb SD card (from my hero) into the desire and rebooted. When it booted, all my apps were ALREADY installed :lol: I only used titanium backup to restore each apps settings. That saved me a lot of time, but is this normal?

A big thanks to EddyOS & hensk for your input (and of course the legend that is Paul).

[Guest redroom]

SUCCESS!!!!!!

After a bit of sweating (mcr3.1 wouldnt install as I downloaded an incomplete file which was only 125mb), I'm now using MCR 3.1. HAPPY DAYS!

The process wasnt anywhere near as hard as I thought and I didnt need a gold card.

Funny thing though... after installing mcr3.1, I put my 8gb SD card (from my hero) into the desire and rebooted. When it booted, all my apps were ALREADY installed :lol: I only used titanium backup to restore each apps settings. That saved me a lot of time, but is this normal?

A big thanks to EddyOS & hensk for your input (and of course the legend that is Paul).

When I was trying to root my Desire the file I downloaded was also 125MB and I also got the same error. Donwloaded it again and it worked. The Mirror file from MCR3.1 worked for me.

Have fun with your rooted desire!