This worked perfectly for me after getting a Dynex MicroSD/SD reader @ Best Buy. I was using a Sony SD reader that didn't work (maybe because its SD + Memory Stick), but trying the Dynex worked.
I had a few little niggles. After the flashes were done off the goldcard, it did not reboot at all. Just said "Update Completed" and sat there. I had to manually reboot. Also, after flashing the DFT SPL, the versions did not change after the first reboot. I had to then reboot into the OS, then reboot into SPL for the new 2.5.xxx.xxx version to show. Then the HSPL worked fine, except I had to RE-Flash the DFT bootloader to get it to boot into the OS again.
After that, in order to flash any other ROM, I couldn't use RUU, as it just simply wouldn't connect. I had to rename the new ROM (in this case the Nokia modded one) to ETERIMG and redo the goldcard flash again. In the end, it worked out fine. Thanks for the tips and your hard work!
nice guide, though a bit confusing. still this will help many who cannot debrand their titans thanks for this