This is meant to be a basic guide to installing and maintaining Android (SD CARD/RAM) on your HD2
NOTE: This guide is not meant for NAND versions of Android installation !!
I want to thank all the XDA forum developers who have made it possible to put Android on the HD2. This is my attempt to make a simple guide for what can be confusing and somewhat scary process (It certainly felt like that to me!!).
Have fun and enjoy your HD2 with Android
NOTE: This guide is not meant for NAND versions of Android installation !!
I want to thank all the XDA forum developers who have made it possible to put Android on the HD2. This is my attempt to make a simple guide for what can be confusing and somewhat scary process (It certainly felt like that to me!!).
For detailed information guide and FAQ please read this thread by mskip
For clear explanation of how things work in Android on HD2 these two threads have excellent detailed information:
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=813434
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=790095
Before you start you need this Info
- Windows ROM version > All Ship ROMs are compatible
- Radio Version > Radio needs to be 2.08.50.xx or more (x.xx.51.xx are not compatible)
- SPL
How to get the Info
For items 1,2 in WinMo look under Settings>About Phone>Software information
This info is also displayed on the bottom left corner (the numbers after the alphabets R,D,G) of your initial boot up white screen with green HTC logo
For item 3 >> Turn phone off > Press and hold Volume down button >briefly press release power button >SPL version is displayed on bootloader screen (Red/Green/White)
For those with Radio > 2.08.50.xx you can install Android >> GO TO STEP B
For those with Radio < 2.08.xx.xx you cannot install Android without upgrading your Radio (Flashing a new Radio) >> GO TO STEP A then STEP B
STEP A (Flashing a new Radio)
If you do not have a compatible Radio version follow the steps below:
Upgrading to the newest HTC stock ROM: This process will upgrade your Radio version anyway (The latest 3.14 ROM has Radio version 2.14.50.4 which is compatible with Android installation): LINK HERE
If you don't want to / or can't upgrade to the latest HTC stock ROM you are going to have a slightly more complicated way
If SPL is 2.10.xxxx or below then use HSPL method. Click here
If SPL is more than 2.10.xxxx you have 2 choices (since HSPL does not work)
- Use SSPL method click here
- Downgrade your SPL and then use HSPL method click here
Note:
>>Please check the radio version recommended by the Android Build maker>>
>> Click here if you want to download Radio versions
STEP B (Installing Android)
If your Radio is compatible (>2.08.50.xx) then here is how to install Android on your HD2
1) Micro SDHC card
Should be atleast 4 Gb, Class 2/4/6/8/10
Formatted clean with 32 or 64 Kb cluster size
2) Install automatic boot loader on WinMo :
This allows you to choose between booting into Windows or Android on start up. From 2nd Android bootup onwards these programs will make it easier to load Windows/Android at startup and you can even specify autoboot into Android if you wish.
Download this as a cab file and install in the phone memory (not in SD card)
Android Loader v6.0 Final for HD2
Exceller bootloader
You can of course manually always boot up Android anytime from Windows File Explorer by running CLRCAD and then HaRET files included in the Android build (see below).
3) Android Build :
Download your chosen Android build on your computer.
Extract / Unzip the folder on the computer
Now copy into the Root of your SD card.
Folder should be labelled "Android"
Once copied into SD card you will see 2 files: CLRCAD.exe and HaRET.exe which have to be run to boot into Android.
There will also be other folders / files (Android Apps, initrd.gz, system.ext2, rootfs.img, zimage, startup.txt, ts-calibration) please leave them as they are.
There are many choices in builds available, such as - MDJ, Darkstone, MIUI,. Please search the forum to look at the different features. I can't advise you on what clothes to buy. The same reasoning applies to advising on Android builds, you have to find out what is right for you...Try the build, if you dont like it, just go for another build..copy and paste your new android folder over the old one and its done.....
4) Data.img :
Your build may have a ready-made one included in the build folder or available to download separately. Size of data image is upto you, 256Mb/512Mb/1Gb (or more). This determines the Size of your Android operating system space for settings and downloaded apps etc. Bigger size allows you to keep more apps etc.
>> At start up if you have a ready-made data.img file, booting up in Android is much faster (5-10 min). (You can choose the image size yourself with this option)
>> If you boot up without a ready-made data.img (Clean Install), then this is created by Android system at first bootup which takes longer (up to 30 min) Here the system will choose its own set default image size depending on startup commands in the build. Its not easy to change this size once its created (although it is possible)
5) First Android Boot
Once you have reached this step you are all set. It really is that simple!
These steps are performed with the phone booted in WinMo
Charge your phone to 100%. This ensures proper battery calibration.
In your File Explorer open the Android folder on the SD card
Run CLRCAD - Nothing seems to happens - This is normal. !!!
Run HARET - Small pop up window with grey progress bar appears with message HaRET LINUX BOOTING - You should then see some text lines in the top left corner of the screen and then a Splashscreen (blank screen with a HTC logo) Please be patient and allow time for the initial bootup.
If Android loads successfully, then (depending on your build )another Splashscreen will appear and then the Lockscreen for Android is launched.
Set up your phone for first use as per onscreen instructions and let all account finish syncing before doing anything else
Once you are up and running here are some of my own tips to maintain your system.
1) Always back up of your data.img file on to your pc/mac (weekly)
This is better done in WinMo. This will mean that you can always have a failsafe arrangement for troubleshooting.
2) Troubleshooting (If you start getting data corruption errors or force closes .
> Make another Clean Install of the build -Boot into Android- Reboot in WinMo - Connect to Computer - Copy backedup data.img file into the New (compatible) Android folder.
DONE! you are back where you started. All apps, settings, contacts,emails, messages are saved as they were at the time of backup.
You can also use a backup programme like Titanium Pro. This is useful when going over to a completely different chef build as you cannot (usually) take your old data.img file across.
3) Changing kernels
Follow instructions on the relevant thread.
For MDJ / Hastarin Kernels the following steps work
Boot up in windows - copy 'zimage' and 'Root' folder (which has modules) from the new kernel and paste into your /Android folder on SD card (i.e replace zimage of old kernel).-
Boot up android - check for successful upgrade under Settings>About phone>Software>Kernel ... the new kernel should be listed.
On boot up android will copy the contents of the /Android/Root folder to the relevant place.
If upgrade is successful then while in Android use a File explorer (with root permissions) to delete the 'Root' folder within Android folder, as this is no longer needed.
Note: Some kernels require the Modules (wifi,bt,lights etc) to be copied manually using Root File explorer while booted in Android. Please check the relevant posts for correct steps.
4) Upgrading Android Builds
I always do a clean install i.e let the Android build its own data.img with a clean formatted SD card.
Once this is done then copy your old backed up data.img and overwrite the newly created data.img to get all your info and settings as they were.
Caution: data.img is usually not compatible across different chef builds and its best to start a clean install if you are going to use a completely different build altogether. You can get you settings back by using a backup programme such as Titanium. Google sync will get your Contacts and Calendar back anyway if you have synced it previously to Gmail account.
5) Improving Battery Life
Having read through a lot of forums and trying out various techniques here are tips that have worked for me.
- Charge your phone in WinMo to 100% (Green LED) While still connected to charger boot to Android and wait for the LED to go green. Then disconnect from charger.
- Autoboot before launching into windows/sense fully, I use Exceller autoboot in 3 sec.
- Rebooting Android 2-3 times after initial install and letting it 'settle' for a 1-2 days
- Turn off any functions not required e.g BT, WiFi, GPS, Autosync
- Turn down screen brightness to minimum
- Use a battery current widget to monitor drain
- Conditioning of battery: Boot into windows when battery is @ 5%, Discharge the battery fully and let the phone turn off> charge fully to green LED while phone off >> Boot up in Android and continue charging till LED green>> One cycle every 2 weeks
- Recalibration: In Android with File explorer (e.g ES Explorer), Choose settings, enable root access and then in Root delete ... /data/system/batterystats.bin . This should be done when 100% charged, Now disable root access in file explorer and close, Run the battery down fully and follow the step above...
- Fully conditioned battery should show about 4.2 - 4.3 V charge at 100% (Free app Battery Indicator)
- Dataswitch (free app) allows switching mobile data when phone is not in use such as during night time etc
- I keep Airplane mode in windows as default before first boot in Android (Not sure if this really helps)
- For me greatest battery drain seems to be when i am in area of poor phone signal> switching to 2G helps using Dataswitch app
Things that don't work:
- Task killers are not really very useful according to Hastarin
For more detailed information regarding battery life issues have a look at this post
Have fun and enjoy your HD2 with Android
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