[HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera] dcordes:
Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & INSTRUCTIONS

Not so small Smallprint

TRY AND WORK THINGS OUT FOR YOURSELF BEFORE POSTING QUESTIONS. IF THAT DOESNT GIVE RESULTS THEN READ THE THREAD (THE LAST 20 PAGES SHOULD SUFFICE). THEN TRY THE SEARCH BUTTON.

IF YOU ASK A QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN COVERED IN THIS POST THEN YOU WILL BE GIVEN A WARNING AND YOUR MESSAGES WILL BE MONITORED. DO IT AGAIN AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN A 1 WEEK BAN.

IF YOU SEE A QUESTION BEING ASKED IN THE THREAD WHICH IS COVERED IN THE FAQ THEN PLEASE REPLY WITH A SIMPLE LINK TO THE FAQ AND THEN REPORT THE USER TO mskip (moderator).

IT IS RECOMMENDED TO INSTALL A HARDSPL ON YOUR DEVICE FIRST

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT INSTALLING HARDSPL AND CHANGING YOUR RADIO *HERE*

USEFUL SITES

Changelog of official HD2 GIT Linux kernel (shows driver changes etc)

Latest zImage (Linux kernel) and module files (automatically updated from GIT): http://oe.netripper.com/files/htcleo_autobuild/zImage-htcleo-latest

Port progress overview: http://htc-linux.org/wiki/index.php?title=Leo/Status

Android builds and download links: http://gamesquare.co.uk/ or http://robsbay.co.uk/

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR DIFFERENT BUILDS

DarkStone1337 - HTC Sense (Desire build)

1. Download from one of the above sites and extract the contents to your pc

2. Copy all files to the ROOT of your Storage Card

3. Soft Reset your device then using a File Manager goto your Storage Card and run clrad.exe (it wont do anything but it has run) followed by haret.exe (do this within 30 seconds of your phone booting into Windows Mobile)

4. Wait for Android to boot (may take upto 5 minutes)

5. Update your Linux kernel and Linux kernel modules (drivers). See below

DarkStone1337 - Froyo build

1. Download from one of the above sites and extract the contents to your pc

2. Copy the Android folder (including all files within the folder) to the ROOT of your Storage Card

3. Soft Reset your device then using a File Manager goto your Storage Card, Android folder and run clrad.exe (it wont do anything but it has run) followed by haret.exe (do this within 30 seconds of your phone booting into Windows Mobile)

4. Wait for Android to boot (may take upto 5 minutes)

5. Update your Linux kernel and Linux kernel modules (drivers). See below

Patched RootFS files (thanks to michyprima) to gain Root access to your Android Build:

DarkStones DesireV5 build - *HERE*

Useage: Copy the required file across to the right place on your Storage Card, overwrite the existing file. Load Android and thats it.

INSTALLING NEW LINUX KERNEL (zImage) AND MODULES (.ko files)

GENERAL FAQ

*Some Roms are reported to work better with Android than other Roms. Duttys Roms seem to have the robot voice problem on calls. Miri's WM6.5 v17 Roms and NRGz Energy Roms seem to work best and have fewer problems.

* With some old radio rom versions it is impossible to boot Linux. Make sure you install a 2.08 + Radio. known working Radios are 2.10.50.08_2 and 2.12.50.02_2

* With the working Linux kernel any kind of Linux based userspace can be used on hd2. This includes google android and any other Linux distribution.

* This is a work in progress! Lots of stuff is still missing. Check http://htc-linux.org/wiki/index.php?title=Leo/Status for current state of affairs

* We know about most available sources of Linux kernel code for the snapdragon devices. It is not necessary to point to evo, bravo, nexus etc.

ANDROID TIPS AND HELP

No Sound in Android: Make sure you run clrad.exe BEFORE running the haret.exe file to boot Android. When you run it, it will not do anything but it does run.

Mobile Internet isnt working on TMOUS HD2: T-Mous users have to manually enter the APN for the mobile internet to work. Go into Network, Mobile Networks, APN. If the APN screen is blank press the Windows button and choose "Add APN" from the menu that pops up. Enter the following, Name: epc.tmobile.com, APN: epc.tmobile.com. Leave the rest blank. Then press with Windows button again and save. Your mobile internet will now work.

Setting up APN (Access Point Name) for Wireless Internet (other than TMOUS): Get your settings from *HERE* then on Android goto Settings, Wireless & Networks, Mobile Networks, Access Point Names. If bank press the Windows Button, New APN and enter your details.

For those having issues with WiFi turning on and off: Go to Settings>Wireless and Networks>Wi-Fi settings>Advanced(Windows key)>WiFi sleep policy> Select Never

Green Screen when booting into Android: Pull out and reinsert the battery, restart the phone and try again.

Phone gets stuck when loading Android (progresses very slow or stuck in the same postion for several minutes): Pull out and reinsert the battery. Delete all references to Android from your storage card including the cache folders and any folders Android created. Then copy the downloaded files back to the ROOT of your storage card or where you are supposed to place them (including the AndroidApps and media folders if you have them). Soft reset your device and run the clrad and haret files within 30 seconds of WinMo loading or use a program such as JMZ's Bootloader.

Sleep of Death (not coming out of sleep): Update your Linux kernel image and modules as instructed above, then restart your phone and restart Android. If you keep getting Sleep of Death with the newest Linux kernel image and Linux kernel modules files then reformat your storage card with FAT32 and start over again. Always make sure you run the latest Linux kernel image and modules.

How to install .apk files on Android: Copy the .apk file to your storage card that you want to install. (see kernel guide for android file copying howto) Load Android and run 'Linda File Manager' from the programs list, then browse to 'SD Card' (complete action using Linda File Manager if asked) and then to the folder where you put the .apk file. Note: To see more information on the screen minimise the keyboard, then click 'view' and select 'details'. Once you have found your .apk file click on it then tick 'Use by default for this action' and select 'package installer'. Now just follow the onscreen instructions to install your program. OR you can copy the .apk files to the AndroidApps folder in the ROOT of your Storage Card and they should auto install when Android loads (most of the time).

Battery isn’t charging in Android: Install the latest Linux kernel image and Linux kernel modules as detailed above.

Excessive Power Consumption: Remember that all these builds are still in beta version and not complete. Alot of things are still being ironed out.

Programs and system functions not working (such as Video camera, Bluetooth, Keyboard backlight on sleep, etc): Install the latest Linux kernel image and Linux kernel modules as detailed above.

No Ringtones or Notifications in setup (in DarkStone's Builds): Download the following file http://gamesquare.co.uk/media.zip (copy the link into your browsers address bar or it wont download). Extract the 'media' folder (make sure the folder has sub folders with the sounds inside those) to the root of your SD card. Now go to Settings, Sound and Display, Phone Ringtone or Notification Sound and they should be there.

What is a zImage? zImage is a Linux kernel binary

image

. It is the core of your operating system containing most of the drivers. The prepended z means that it is compressed with the gzip algorithm, making it smaller than the non compressed Image file.

Can I use more multiple zImage files at the same time? No. Your phone can only execute one Linux kernel at a time. HaRET.exe (the bootloader) reads the kernel filename from startup.txt - You can maintain multiple zImage files on your phone but chose only one via startup.txt

How do I change the background wallpaper? Hold your finger on the screen and select Wallapers from the popup list.

How do I change the settings? Press the Start Menu button on your phone (middle hardware button) to bring up the menu, then select the bottom middle button (settings or preferences depending on your Android build).

I cant update an app thats pre-installed (i.e. facebook or twitter): Download Root Explorer from the Market, then open it and browse to the 'system, app' folder. Delete the apk file of the app you want to update then try downloading and installing it again.

If you are trying out a TEST build of Android then you SHOULD have a basic level of intelligence (laughs quietly to self) so PLEASE use your brain and try to work things out for yourself before posting a question.

USEFUL ANDROID APPS

*

Android System Info

(by ElectricSheep, Excellent system information app): Download FREE from Market

*

Battery Indicator

(gives battery and temperature % readout in the taskbar): Download FREE from Market

*

BatteryMinder

(excellent battery information program with time left and temperature): Download FREE from Market

*

CalWidget

(excellent alternative to the standard calendar with lots of sizes): Download FREE from Market

*

Dropbox

(from Dropbox inc. excellent way to transfer files to your phone): Download FREE from Market

*

FaceBook for Android

(v1.2): Download FREE from Market

*

Footmob

(football from everywhere): Download FREE from Market

*

Gmote

(allows you to control your pc from your phone): Download from http://www.gmote.org/

*

Google Earth

(great app for viewing anywhere on the earth): Download FREE from Market

*

Google Goggles

(visual recognition app, well worth trying): Download FREE from Market

*

Handcent SMS

(enhances your sms functions and has a nice message widget): Download FREE from Market

*

lastfm

(really good free music streaming player similar to Pandora): Download FREE from Market

*

MoreLocale 2

(nice little program that adds more locales and even add custom ones): Download FREE from Market

*

Myplayer

(watch on-demand tv programs for free): Download FREE from Market

*

Nexus One Torch

(by Ben Buxton, LED works when High Brightness is turned on): Download FREE from Market

*

Opera Mini Browser

(very nice and feature packed internet browser): Download FREE from Market

*

Phonebook 2

(excellent contact manager app): Download FREE from the Market

*

Photoshop.com Mobile

(nice image editing program): Download FREE from the Market

*

Qik Video Camera

(record and share video, works as video camera on beta roms): Download FREE from the Market

*

Ringdroid

(create your own RingTones): Download FREE from Market

*

SetCPU

(great app allows you to tune the cpu for different situations): Download *HERE*, HowToUse it *HERE*

*

Sky Remote record

(says it all - tested and working fine for UK): Download FREE from Market

*

TempMonitor Lite

(puts temperature in taskbar): Download FREE from Market

*

Zedge Ringtones & Wallpapers

(free ringtones, message tones and wallpapers): Download FREE from Market

USEFUL ANDROID INFORMATION

1. The difference between Desire Builds and Froyo Builds (thanks to memin1857)

Desire build is ripped from an HTC Desire. It is Android version 2.1 (Eclair)

Froyo build is ripped from a Nexus One. It is Android version 2.2 (Froyo)

Froyo is a newer and much faster Android version. It is currently only available on Nexus one officially. Other newer phones will get it eventually.

HTC Sense is the user interface on top of Android. Desire builds have it already. It can be disabled for standard Android interface.

2.

Importing WM Contacts into Android

(thanks to brownman)

You need PIM Backup, a computer with internet access and a Gmail account.

1. Open PIM Backup on your Windows Mobile device. Select the Backup action and unselect everything but contacts, then hit Next.

2. At the "Select backup filename and folder" screen, unselect the "compress backup" and "binary backup" options, then hit Next.

3. Transfer the BACKUP.PIB file that you just made from your phone to your computer. Change the extension from .PIB to .RAR, then extract the file.

4. The extracted file should be BACKUP.CSC. Simply change the extension to .CSV and import the file to your gmail account. All your contacts can now be imported to your phone through gmail - just follow the instructions given in the phone's contact menu.

or activesync with google http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=138636

3.

Putting a Shortcut button on HTC Sense, etc to start Linux (in order to boot Android, Ubuntu, etc)

1. Make sure you have your Android build copied to your Storage Card as instructed earlier in this FAQ

2. Install mskip's Android Loader from *HERE* and install to DEVICE Memory

3. Add a Shortcut Button to your Sense, Mobile Shell or other Today Screen Plugin

4. Click on the button to start Android loading

4.

Adding languages to Android Operating SystemBU

Read *THIS* thread.

Mark & dcordes
​