HTC Desire – Steps to Install Custom ROM Android 2.3 Gingerbread Villain Firmware

Sometimes all official things doesn’t come beautiful or say sometimes all beautiful things doesn’t come officially. So, in lines to this we will see on how you can easily update your HTC Desirewith the latest version of Gingerbread 2.3.1 version. This update comes as a great respite for all those who always wanted to update their HTC Desire phones with the Gingerbread 2.3.1 version. Please note that this is not the Official firmware version which is released by the HTC but is the custom ROM which you can install for turning your device into a stunning looking one.

For your convenience we have broken this article into different pages wherein you can easily update your HTC Desire. Over a period of this article we will see on what are the enhancements which come along with this update and also we will see the screen captures on how this firmware will actually look in your phone followed by the pre requisites to be followed and the procedure to update your phone with the Gingerbread 2.3.1 version of firmware.

Disclaimer: Please note that we should not be held liable or responsible in any manner if anything wrong happens to your device which is the most unlikely if you follow the instructions as prescribed in the due course of this article. It’s very important to follow the instructions or else the phone may even get bricked.

Enhancements / Contents in Gingerbread 2.3.1:

• Google Apps along with the Android Market Place,
• OTA Update facility which can be done by using the MOD / KERNEL / Flash tool,
• Google Maps 5.0 with finger rotation capability,
• Working Bluetooth,
• Working Camera,
• Apps2SD capability pre installed in this update of Gingerbread,
• Titanium backup application and also the ROM Manager app is included in this application,
• OCUV beater capability in pre installed in this version
• Wi Fi bug of frequent disconnection has been fixed,
• Free space have been improved marginally,
• GPS Connectivity in indoors is not an issue anymore
• All new launcher along with the boot image,

So, now let’s proceed to the next page where we will see on how this Custom ROM will actually look like along with the pre requisite instructions which you need to follow.

Pre Requisite instructions:
There are some list of quick pre requisites which you need to follow so as to get away from the issue of non updation of phone. For your benefit we have listed some of the instructions which are mentioned below.

• In the process of the firmware update there is a possibility that you may end up losing all the data which is stored in the phone. So, you need to ensure that all the data which is there in the phone is backed up so that the same can be restored if there is any loss of data.

SMS – Use “SMS Backup & Restore app”,
Contacts – Sync with the Gmail application,
Call Log - Call Log and Restore
Images, Songs, Videos, Files – Copy to internal / External SD Card,
APN and MMS Settings – Note down from the path “Applications > Settings > Wireless and Network > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names”

• Also, you will have to ensure that the phone is charged to the minimum of 70% so as to ensure that the phone doesn’t get turned Off in the middle of the firmware update.

• You need to ensure that the USB Debugging is enabled in the phone, the same can be done from the path of “Settings > Applications > Development > USB Debugging”. After enabling the USB debugging mode you will also have to download the HTC Sync Drivers in your computer and then you will have to install the same in your Windows based computer (Linux and Mac based systems are not compatible). Now, disable the fast boot from the path of “Settings > Power > Fast boot”.

• Once above three conditions are satisfied you now need to enter into the recovery mode so as to ensure that the cache data is removed. To do this you will have to select the option of “Clear Storage” option as shown in the below image.

Caution: Please note that this update is not recommended for all the users who are on the network locked devices or locked to the specific network carriers as this may or may not successfully update the device and also may void the warranty if you continue to proceed for updating the phone. If your phone is locked then applying with this firmware won’t unlock the device in any manner. It’s necessary to get your phones unlocked with the boot loader so as to install this firmware update on your phone.

Procedure to update HTC Desire with Gingerbread 2.3.1 firmware:

• First up you need to Root the HTC Desire so as to proceed to the next step. You can root the HTC Desire by following the instructions which are mentioned below.

Procedure to Root HTC Desire search our older posts

• Once you are done with the rooting process, you now need to proceed to download and install the ROM Manager application in your Android phone. Please note that once the ROM Manager application is installed you will need to “backup” the current ROM which is the official one so that just in case if anything goes wrong with the Official one then you can easily restore back the original ROM, we have mentioned the link below for backing up the ROM.

Procedure to Backup the Current ROM on your HTC Desire search our older posts

• Now, download the HTC Desire Gingerbread 2.3.1 in your computer. As soon as you download this ensure that you are not renaming this file in any manner or else it will not be detecting the file in the phone.

• Up next is with the help of the USB cable connect the phone with computer and then copy the downloaded zip file in the phone so that the same can be used to select the same. Ensure that you are not placing the file deep into the any of the folders as doing this may not recognize the file.
• Once the file is entered in the phone, you now need to remove the USB cable which is connected to the computer. After this you need to head to the applications which is there in the phone so that you can then open the ROM Manager application in your phone.

• Now, in the ROM Manager you will have to choose the option of “Install ROM from SD Card” after which you will see many options in the list from where you will have to then select the zip file which you have placed. As soon as you select the file you will now need to wait till the firmware is updated.
• So once the firmware update is done, all you need to do is to just select the option of +++++Go Back++++ and then select “Reboot System Now” to restart the phone and that’s it you have now successfully updated the HTC Desire device to the latest version of Gingerbread Cyanogen mod release. It may also get restarted automatically.