[HTC Aria Android Development] attn1:
Installing a custom ROM and loading Clockwork Recovery on an unrooted HTC ARIA.

Installing a custom ROM on Aria/loading Clockwork Recovery on an UNROOTED HTC Aria.

(like mine, found here: ROM Liberated_Aria)

This method is borrowed heavily from eugene's MT3GS root method, using Unrevoked exploit.

OS X/Linux Users: remember to preface abd commands with ./ (./adb)

We now have the ability to flash custom recovery on the phone! (Thanks to the Unrevoked Team)

PREREQUISITE #1: You must have the android sdk installed on a Windows machine and know how to use adb. Alternatively, you can use a *nix/OS X box if you don't mind verifying devices without the loop to watch.

PREREQUISITE #2: Download Clockwork_Aria_MT3GS.zip

Process:

Format the SD card supplied with the phone like this: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=7029045&postcount=283 (Thanks Yoshiofthewire) in a card reader if at all possible.

Copy your new ROM zipfile to the root directory of the SDCARD. DO NOT name it update.zip. DO NOT unzip it. You must flash the zipfile later.

Copy the contents of Clockwork_Aria_MT3GS.zip to the tools directory of your SDK, along with your ROM zipfile of choice.

Power up the phone, holding down the VOL-DOWN button.

Wait about 30 seconds, until some diagnostic checking is done.

Press volume down to highlight recovery, but to do not push power to execute just yet.

Open a command prompt and navigate to your SDK tools directory.

Start the loop.bat file and let it run. (Optional if you don't mind running adb devices until the decide to show up).

Get ready to connect the phone to the computer with the USB cable, but don't connect one end until you read the next step.

This part is a PIA and it's critical, and it's inconsistent and therefore may take quite a few tries to get it right: Pushing the power button first and then approximately one second later plug in the USB cord. (Think ONE THOUSAND ONE-PLUG)

When the triangle/exclaimation over phone graphic appears, hold volume up and press power. This will bring you to stock recovery.

If this works, your loop running the adb devices command will list the device. If not, start from the beginning from power up. This can take a lot of tries, be patient and don't give up. Not all SD cards will work reliably.

Once devices are listed in the loop, hit CTRL-C to terminate the loop if you've started one. Hurdle one complete.

In recovery, use volume down to select Apply sdcard:update.zip and push the power button to execute (This will fail, but it's enabled write access for me.)

adb push ota.zip /sdcard/update.zip and press the enter on keyboard to execute. (No - that's not a typo)

If that pushes without error, then enter adb push update.zip /sdcard/update.zip but do NOT press enter.

In recovery, again scroll down with power down to select sdcard:update.zip but do not execute yet.

Press the power button and then watch phone to say "verifying" and then press enter IMMEDIATELY on the keyboard. If timed right, Clockwork recovery should load. If not, start back at step push ota.zip /sdcard/update.zip and repeat from there until clockwork loads.

Optional: From Clockwork Recovery, do a Nandroid backup.

From Clockwork Recovery, select install zip from sdcard, and execute, then choose zip from sdcard and execute, and then you can scroll down to your pre-rooted rom of choice and execute that to flash it. In Clockwork you can scroll with trackpad or volume buttons, and you can execute with either the power button or a trackpad button push.

If you get stuck trying to get Clockwork to load:

Try a different sdcard and start again from the first step.

Check out Modest Android's post here: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=7006760&postcount=2

The Unrevoked Team has more info here: http://www.unrevoked.com/rootwiki/doku.php?id=public:adb_in_recovery

On a rooted Aria, do yourself a huge favor and install Clockwork Recovery. See this thread: Unrevoked team: Recovery reflash tool (updated - Now for Aria/Liberty!)

Also, enable installation of non-Market (untrusted) apps (sideloading):

COMMON:

Start the phone normally.

Enable USB debugging (settings > applications > development > USB Debugging)

Leave the phone running - do not reboot to Clockwork.

adb remount

adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db settings.db

Linux/OS X:

echo "update secure set value = 1 where name = 'install_non_market_apps';"|./sqlite3 settings.db

WINDOWS:

echo update secure set value = 1 where name = 'install_non_market_apps';|sqlite3 settings.db

COMMON:

adb push settings.db /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db

Reboot phone and sideloading works. (thanks to fluffyarmada)

When I get a chance, I'll figure out how to do a proper menu toggle.

ROM Downloads:

liberated_aria_b003_signed.zip

(HTC Boot theme, AT&T apps removed, Google Search default web page)

MD5: 2d7a3aeb8ebe2c33247897be7ef22740

aria_shipped_rooted_signed.zip

(Stock with ROOT, AT&T Boot theme & Apps)

MD5: af56f22d24e4dcc4b205cf9bb3bc9ba1