[Desire Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Alsajosora:
Hi,

After reading through the forums and trying many of the ROMS that the DEV's have put so much hard work and effort into producing it irks me somewhat when you get someone posting that they are having problems with the ROM without trying the basics first.

My number one with trying ANY new rom is a clean install. Running an ROM update from Rom manager doesn't always clear user data correctly and "can" be the source of FC's and other spurious issues that people encounter.....They then report them as a rom issue when really they are not.

Here is how to do a clean install that rules out this possible side effect.

A few things to note first.....:confused:

Nandroid, nandroid and NANDROID........Before attempting ANY rom upgrade, ALWAYS create a backup of your current system, then, should it all go wrong you can get back to a working phone.;)

Google Market on the web will allow you to "push" back all your previous programs, I find it a lot quicker than doing it throught the marketplace on your phone:rolleyes:

Copy the ROM zip you wish to install to the root of your SDCARD

Now to the guide.......Assuming you have Clockworkmod recovery V2.5.0.7 or higher.....It tells you what version you have when you boot into recovery....

Restart your phone but hold the volume down button in until the options screen appears....Wait a few seconds while it mounts your sdcard and does a few other checks. Now using the down volume key again move down until RECOVERY is highlighted. Now press the POWER ON button once. Your Phone will reboot into Clockworkmod recovery.

Now on the screen you will see several options, using the trackpad or the volume up/down key you can move up/down the menu. To select use the trackpad button NOT the power on/off button.....On some builds this turns the screen on/off and can confuse.......

>> Go to ADVANCED and select it

>> Go to Dalvik Cache and select it

>> Go to YES - WIPE DALVIK CACHE

When the cache has been wiped (you will get confirmation of this at the bottom of the screen) click your "BACK" button on your phone to return you to your original menu.

Now,

>> MOUNTS AND STORAGE

>> FORMAT BOOT

>> YES - FORMAT

Back key again.

>> FORMAT SYSTEM

>> YES - FORMAT

Back Key again.

>> FORMAT DATA

>> YES - FORMAT

Back key again.

>>FORMAT CACHE

>> YES - FORMAT

Back key again.

>>FORMAT SD-EXT

>> YES - FORMAT

Don't worry if you don't have an EXT partition CWM will tell you this and skip this step.

Back key again,

Back key again, to get you back to the main menu.

>> ADVANCED

>> REBOOT RECOVERY

Wait for your phone to reboot and present you with the recovery screen once more.

Now,

>> INSTALL ZIP FROM SDCARD

>> CHOOSE ZIP FROM SDCARD

Using your trackpad navigate to your previously copied ROM zip file and select it

>> YES - INSTALL *name of selected ROM zip*

AND LEAVE IT ALONE UNTIL IT HAS COMPLETED, IT WILL TELL YOU AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN.

Back key x2

>> REBOOT SYSTEM NOW.....

Your phone should now reboot into your newly flashed ROM!!!! Do bear in mind thought that the first boot of any new ROM can take some time, so my advice is to put the phone down and let it get on with it. Go make a cup of tea or something......;)

The guide above is by no means exhaustive and there are probably steps that need not be done, however, this is the method I use and to date have had no issues with any new rom I flash other than bugs in the rom itself. But as it is a cleanly flashed ROM I know these are ROM bugs and NOT issues caused by remnants of my old system and because of this feedback to the DEV is more appropriate........Good luck!!!:)