Manually Updating HTC Desire to 1.21.405.2
Update: 19/06/2010 - HTC appear to have taken down the link from their website. I've uploaded the local copy I've got instead, and it's already renamed as update.zip.
Changes in this release (from XDA):
It seems that the update is only available for the EU unbranded roms.
Changes reported:
- Updates bootloader to 0.80.
- New radio image.
- New youtube app with HQ option (1.6.20E).
- Fixed htc's weather widget (integrated into clock&weather widget) not knowing where you are (1.15.xxx just said the name of the country in some countries).
- SMS issue (from non-numerical senders) is resolved.
- fixed random contact showing when receiving operator SMS.
- fixes the voicemail bug for the French carrier SFR (short voicemail number used to call 911/emergency).
- Messages app now shows a count on the number of messages in the SMS inbox.
- calendar/contacts bug - unable to store contact's birthday - has been fixed.
- Long click on the menu button when in home screen now doesnt pop up the keyboard, like it uselessly did before.
- SMS reader does not show the little smiley androids any more - just the mere types.
- Exchange Company Address Book is now properly working. Was unable to use before the update.
- They have disabled the snooze function on the Optical trackpad for calendar events. This means that it is now possible to have the phone in your pocket without accidentally snoozing the alarms.
Please note: It's been reported that Orange Debranded Users have issues with this update breaking Wi-Fi. Please take this into consideration when updating, and be careful.
Update procedure:
1. Download the official firmware update here.
2. Copy the file to your microSD card and name it update.zip (not update.zip.zip).
3. Power off your phone.
4. Hold down the VOLUME DOWN button and power it back on.
5. The phone will now search for files like PB00IMG.zip, etc. This is normal. It may take a few seconds. Scroll down to recovery and press the POWER button.
6. When you see the /!\ symbol, press the POWER button and the Volume Up button at the same time. You should be presented with a menu and one of the options should be "Apply sdcard:update.zip".
7. Use the volume keys to navigate to "apply sdcard:update.zip" and select it using the power button.
8. When you see "Install from sdcard complete", select "reboot system now".
That's it!
Please note: I'm not responsible for any damage to your phone as a result of you manually applying this update. Whilst it is unusual for a manual update using an official image to break your phone, I still felt it wise to warn you.
June 15th, 2010 - 16:03
I came across your article, i think your blog is awsome, keep working !
June 16th, 2010 - 00:17
Thank you! – I try to post informative articles, so please bookmark this, and I’ll come up with some new stuff soon
June 18th, 2010 - 22:08
um link dosent work
June 19th, 2010 - 17:48
I’ve updated the link now as HTC have taken it down from their site. Please click the same ‘here’ link, and it’ll be downloadable!
June 20th, 2010 - 16:20
There seems to be a reason why HTC has taken down the update. Several customers have reported problems with power consumption and some other minor issues after the update. Take this in notice before updating.
June 21st, 2010 - 10:52
Screen keeps giving /!\ and does not go to the install menu…. Looks like the Phone hangs up.
June 21st, 2010 - 10:57
Okay,
Stupid of me, I pressed the Volume Down and Power instead of the Volume UP and Power button. Now it works and device is updateing. Thanx for this post !
June 22nd, 2010 - 09:28
I can’t say I’m one of them to have the problem.
June 24th, 2010 - 21:09
Only just recently, when I first put this blog post up, it wasn’t yet showing up for a lot of people.
June 25th, 2010 - 14:19
just updated my Desire to this version 1.21.405.2 and its completely ruined my texting experience slowing down (lagging) the opening of conversations, the response of writing the text (delay in letter appearance) and sending of texts. Anyone else got this problem?
June 25th, 2010 - 15:19
This never occured for me when I updated.
My suggestion to you would be to perform a factory reset, you can do this by doing the following:
Menu > Settings > Privacy > Factory data reset
Baring in mind, this will wipe all applications installed by you, also remove any settings / accounts you had setup, and it will return it to the state it was in when you first received it in the box!
June 27th, 2010 - 21:31
Hi all
I just updated my desire and for the record WIFI is no more
And a factory reset will NOT remove any update !!
PM
June 28th, 2010 - 09:09
I did this update on my new HTC desire as I wasn’t getting any software updates showing up for my phone ! It worked for me first time no problems and I did it direct on my phone, my phone is working much better and all those bug fixes have been applied to my phone it works great you are a credit to us thank u so much any news about a froyo update for the desire ? Thank u once again I have bookmarked this page and will check it everyday keep up the good work !
June 29th, 2010 - 08:21
Is your phone locked to Orange by any chance. Or should I say, was it originally a branded Orange desire?
There seems to be recurrent problems with these. And was warned on the blog post!
June 29th, 2010 - 14:13
Hi all a little help please if possible? I have an HTC desire which is locked to ORANGE is this update ok for me to use or will I lose my wi-fi option if I update??. Your help will b much appreciated thanks.
June 29th, 2010 - 14:49
Hi Benny,
This could break your wi-fi – so be careful if you choose to do this!
And Ram heer, you’re most welcome! the 2.2 update was due for this week, now I think it’s 2 months away.
PM – Are you on Orange?
I’ll post info about the 2.2 update when I have it
June 29th, 2010 - 22:02
I have an HTC Desire with Virgin Mobile (UK). It worked with my phone. A few notes – during the upgrade the screen displays items in very small print. You use the volume up and down to move between items and select with the power button. If applicable, ignore the error about not finding a file (something about restore cache?). Be patient and wait for the device when it restarts after the upgrade as it will take quite a few minutes.
June 30th, 2010 - 00:46
I have an orange black branded and new from Orange will this update work without issues? Has anyone achieved this?
June 30th, 2010 - 16:50
Martin, yep that’s all right. As for the restore cache thing, it’s common across Android phones to have that in the stock recovery console, not entirely sure, but nothing to worry about!
Jon – if your phone is branded to Orange, it could have the wi-fi issue that some have experienced above. I’d be cautious if proceeding to do that.
However you’d need to debrand your phone first before applying this update, so it wouldn’t work anyway if you tried to apply it! – It’s the debrand process that seems to render the wireless inoperable on branded orange handsets.
June 30th, 2010 - 16:53
Hi,
from sweden here.
I recently did the FOTA-update which resulted in my wifi device getting screwed up. This is the same problem that you have noted in your blogpost regarding the debranded orange thing (whatever that is).
After lurking in several different forums, I’ve found a solution to the broken wifi issue. That would be to install the firmware update manually. However, I really don’t know if this solves the problem, and I’m a bit chicken to try it out for myself. So my question is if you have any experience in this or any info on how the solve the wifi issue?
cheers
//S
June 30th, 2010 - 17:38
Hi -WR-
Thanks for your post.
I’ve not had any experience personally with the broken Wi-Fi issue with regards to orange. I don’t think this will solve the problem tbh, as this guide shows you how to update manually anyway!
However, if someone with an orange phone would be interested in giving the debranding a try, then installing this update manually? We could see if what -WR- is saying is correct! As it could work, but I’m not sure personally.
Cheers,
Keith.
June 30th, 2010 - 18:55
Hi Keith,
I’m not positive that this would solve it either, but someone wrote (think it was in some T-mobile HTC Desire forum) that the FOTA-update resulted in wifi not working and that a manual re-update fixed the problem for him. I guess the manual installation was made on-top the already existing 1.21.405.2. So I’m just trying to figure it out bit-by-bit until I take the next step on taking action to solve it. After the hard reset, I think twice before doing anything.
If there is anyone sitting on info on how to solve this wifi problem or if anyone knows that this manual re-update procedure would actually solve it, it would be much appreciated! And of course, I’m still searching for a solution.
Great blog btw. A definitive bookmark!
//S
July 2nd, 2010 - 19:35
Hi all
Just thought I would let you know my set is T mobile supplied and debranded, and yes I too have broken WiFi since update. Can someone please help.
Gabaltariq
July 3rd, 2010 - 12:49
Hi all
I said t mobile supplied and debranded, what I should’ve said is. On t mobile and supplied by carphone warehouse so it should be an debranded set shouldn’t it? But the WiFi is still stuffed since the update.
July 5th, 2010 - 15:12
Hi Gabaltariq,
I de-branded from T-Mobile, and my phone hasn’t had any Wi-Fi issues. What I would suggest is performing a full factory reset, then re-applying the update if necessary. Let us know how you get on!
-WR-
Thanks for your advice to us all – that’s quite helpful, it’s a shame I don’t have an Orange phone to test with! And thank you, I appreciate that
July 27th, 2010 - 04:21
Hi Keith,
There are talks circulating around various blogs about the broken wifi issue.. this solely has to do with the radio code these phones have. There is a way of updating the radio and bringing it in line with the non branded desire.. which ultimately resolves the wifi issues and brings it back to life.
July 27th, 2010 - 11:04
Hi Rohit,
Thanks for this.
Do you happen to know where to get the new radio? – It’s pretty easy to update the phone with it, just not sure where to get the radio!
I do believe that the latest update package does include the radio though.. so I’m not sure why people would still be having issues.
Cheers,
Keith.
August 1st, 2010 - 12:42
I did run this update and it seemed to work fine, but when I checked the software version it still says 1.19.161.5… I want it to be 1.21.405.2 so I can definitely get the Froyo update.
August 1st, 2010 - 13:35
Ok I just realised after trying again that it didn’t install, it said “assert failed: file_getprop(“/system/build.prop…” followed by a lot more of the same kind of computer speak…
August 1st, 2010 - 13:38
Ok wait, it’s only available for unbranded roms, I’m guessing 1.19.161.5 is branded? Does anyone know how I can get it onto 1.21.405.2?
August 1st, 2010 - 19:27
Hey there. I did everything step by step. But when installing after verifying the update it gave some error and said installation aborted. My software number is : 1.15.110.11.
Can anyone help me with this please?
Thanks
August 1st, 2010 - 20:07
Steve,
1.19.161.5 is a branded ROM I believe. You would need to de-brand before using this update.
Umut,
I believe that version number is also a branded ROM which would be why you couldn’t update.
Please see the following guide for de-branding: http://androidforums.com/htc-desire/67098-how-flash-debrand-your-desire.html
August 2nd, 2010 - 18:57
Ok, thanks for the tip.
August 2nd, 2010 - 19:01
Hi,
Do I need to use the update.zip you have got there or could I use one for 2.2 now it’s been released ?
I’m on 3 and it’s branded.
Thanks
August 3rd, 2010 - 08:22
Umut, you’re welcome.
Diggott, you’d need to use the update.zip I have, as Froyo hasn’t fully been released yet. You would have to demand from 3 first though. There is a link to a guide in a previous post on how to debrand. I think ill do my own guide to help out as its quite a popular query. Hope that helps!
August 3rd, 2010 - 12:41
Btw I know my phone is unlocked but still branded. If I do debrand process will I need a new code to unlock my phone or there are separate things?
August 6th, 2010 - 14:29
it still not work for me .
August 21st, 2010 - 19:28
I managed to go past the recovery etc . Then some sort of installation starts from 0-100, which is where the problem is . It stucks on 86 than restarts and stucks again … restarts again ! Help please ?
August 29th, 2010 - 22:04
I’m sorry Mahmood, without more details, I can’t be sure how to proceed.