[G2 and Desire Z Android Development] gtrab:
The HTC DESIRE Z

ROOT / S-OFF / FLASHING / DEBRANDING

EASY TUTORIAL and FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

INTRODUCTION​

- Before anything, please scroll down to post 2 to read the ROOT | FLASHING | BASICS | FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You will graduate with an Android flashing degree in 9 minutes guaranteed :D

Then you can come back here and proceed reading the rooting / debranding / flashing guides.

- This guide/tutorial is a LEARNING and RESOURCES centre written in plain english for the average user.

- Don't be shy: please feel free to ask any questions, but don't be dumb: READ first before asking !!

HOW TO ROOT and S-OFF​

- For rooting questions, please refer to the proper thread (rooting methods).

- Rooting an HTC Vision is a pain in the arse because there are many variants/versions, and not all rooting methods can be used on all of them.

- There are many ways to get root access: "rage" (ADB command line type) "visionary" (an APK installable app by paulobrien from Modaco) "gfree", etc. Using "Rage" is safer, "visionary" is simpler but many problemshave been reported, and "gfree" safer and most up to date.

- After using any of these, you can go further and turn S-OFF, CID-unlock and SIM-unlock the phone with "gfree", a safe and neat script written by scotty2 et al @ #G2root IRC. Sounds confusing ?? Just follow the instructions on the Wiki.

- TO ROOT, FOLLOW THE STEPS IN THE WIKI

VISION WIKI: ROOTING

- To check if your phone can be rooted you can check this neat thread:

[GUIDE] Root AND Downgrade ANY Desire Z or G2

Thanks to Aegishua

- Before "gfree" was available, transitory ("fake") S-OFF was achieved by flashing an engineering hBoot, but it is

not safe

and not recommended for newbies.

- As for reference, qpop made a neat a simple guide to get root S-OFF and CID unlock with visionary and gfree. It works a treat with Bell-NAM phones, but visionary sometimes doesn't work for some Asia/Voda versions.

The thread is located here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=857390, download the "UberRoot" package from the post footer, and follow qpop's guide.

(thanks scotty2 for your hard work and qpop for the guide !!)

- fattire has another neat and clear guide/tutorial for using gfree version 2, the thread is located here: [Guide] Subsidy Unlock, SuperCID, and Radio S-OFF

- UPDATE July 2011:

The MOST RECENT rooting guide/method dated 30 JUN 2011 from aegishua here:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1055581

- More instructions and several methods to root in the WIKI:

WIKI - Rooting the HTC Vision,

and HTC Vision Permanent Root,

- NOTE: You will need an ADB shell to run gfree and for other stuff. Please read the FAQ if you don't know what this is. If you don't have an ADB shell already set up and running, download the ADB drivers and the Mini ADB from this post's footer or download the full Android SDK (which includes ADB) and the HTC Sync software (to install the USB drivers on your PC).

- The older rooting guide and the older (and not so safe) "hBoot" way to ("fake") S-OFF have been moved to post 3 for reference purposes only. Plese scroll down to post 3 should you want to read the older guides.

HOW TO DEBRAND​

"Debranding" means replacing an original operator-customized frimware (Bell, Vodafone, etc) for the generic, stock HTC Sense firmware.

METHOD 1: Unlocking CID security​

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You can use this method if you don't have a Goldcard.

- Make sure your phone's battery is charged at least 50%.

- Make sure your PC has the phone's USB drivers installed.

If not, download the HTC USB Driver (for Windows) from this post footer or you can also get them installed by downloading the "HTC Sync" software. After installing the drivers, connect your phone to the PC with the USB cable at least once and the USB drivers will be installed to your PC.

- Your phone must be fully S-OFF and CID-unlocked with scotty2's "gfree" script.

- Download the World Generic HTC shipped official ROM (firmware) with its flashing utility (RUU) from this thread:

[ROM] RUU_Vision_HTC_WWE_1.34.405.5_Radio_12.28b.60.140e _26.03.02.26_M

(thanks football for sharing !!).

- From your PC, run the RUU, follow the on-screen instructions, and let it finish the process.

METHOD 2: Using a Goldcard​

You can use this method if you don't want to S-OFF/CID unlock your phone.

- Make sure your phone's battery is charged at least 50%.

- Make sure your PC has the phone's USB drivers installed.

If not, download the HTC USB Driver (for Windows) from this post footer or you can also get them installed by downloading the "HTC Sync" software. After installing the drivers, connect your phone to the PC with the USB cable at least once and the USB drivers will be installed to your PC.

- You need to put a Goldcard SD card inside your phone during the flashing process, otherwise you'll get an "Incorrect Version" Error when flashing. Scroll down to "Resources Centre" to find out how to easily create a Goldcard in a couple of minutes.

- Download the World Generic HTC shipped official ROM (firmware) with its flashing utility (RUU) from this thread:

[ROM] RUU_Vision_HTC_WWE_1.34.405.5_Radio_12.28b.60.140e _26.03.02.26_M

(thanks football for sharing !!).

- From your PC, run the RUU, follow the on-screen instructions, and let it finish the process.

RESOURCES CENTRE​

HOW TO CREATE A GOLDCARD​

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- To easily create a Goldcard in a couple of minutes without ADB skills or commands, check this thread.

TIP: After reading post 1 and downloading the automated software, be sure to read post 5 there for a neat guide.

- To manually create a Goldcard (requres ADB skills) check this thread.

(thanks Apache14 !!)

TIP: Put the SD card you want to convert to "Goldcard" into your phone, connect your phone to the PC, select "Disk Drive" in your phone, and follow only the step 2 of that post. The other steps mentioned there are not required to create a Goldcard to debrand/downgrade.

EXTRACTED OFFICIAL ROMS AND OTHER UTILITIES​

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- Here's the World/Euro generic 1.34.405.5 rom.zip (aka "PC10IMG.zip"), extracted from the official RUU [megaupload].

BEWARE: This is a signed officila image, it should be flashed only to a phone originaly shipped with this firmware, or to a CID unlocked phone.

WHAT TO DO IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG​

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- If something goes wrong, eg. you erroneously flashed a T-Mobile official image and now your phone is looping at boot or seems "bricked", you can check fastludeh22's thread: How to recover my semi-brick

or his other thread about flashing a wrong image

(thanks fastludeh22 !!)

HTC ADB DRIVERS FOR WINDOWS VISTA/7, 32/64 bits​

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- Attached to post footer is a package with the ADB HTC USB drivers for Windows Vista / Windows 7 PCs

- These drivers are required for ADB

- Just in case you don't want to download and install the full "HTC Sync" software

ADB MINI PACKAGE​

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- Attached to post footer is a package with a basic, mini ADB SHELL for Windows Vista / Windows 7 PCs

- Just in case you don't want to download the full "Android SDK" software

- The ADB USB phone drivers are required

- There's a good ADB learning guide here: ADB for noobs

(thanks steviewevie !!)

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- Also, and for reference only, the older Visionary R12 app is attached to this post footer