Okay folks, this here guide is to alleviate some of the aggravation that us senior members and mods have every day with n00bs not wanting to search and read in order to find answers to stuff. So I am gonna make it really easy for ya'll. I am going to provide links and information to the top questions and concerns that noobs have here at XDA-Devs.
And before I start, yes, I know that this is a futile attempt at gettin some order around here, but it makes me feel better, so there!
Also, yes, I know that this is in the Wiki, but no one reads that either...so thats another reason why I am making this.
DISCLAIMER!!!-Neither I, nor XDA-Developers, nor any of the authors or programmers of any the programs contained herein shall be held accountable or responsible for damage done to you, you Wizard, your wife/husband, dog/cat/bird/gerbil etc because of the mis-use or dumbassary that YOU ALONE cause. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
Mods/other members, PLEASE correct me or add to this as you see fit!
Ahem, now onto the guide!
QUESTION 1-How do I tell what type of Wizard I have?
ANSWER=Whether your device is called an O2 XDA, T-Mobile MDA, Qtek 9100 etc, you have an HTC model name Wizard mobile telephone device. There are however 2 versions of said device. They are called G3 and G4 devices, and their differences are as follows:
G3=The G3 type Wizard was the original type available. It can be both SIM and CID unlocked, and most any ROM can be applied to it. You can both CID and SIM unlock a G3 model with the Wizard Service Tool, available from here:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=329170 . READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO BOTH SIM AND CID UNLOCK YOUR WIZARD! More detail on ROM upgrades is below.
G4=The G4 type Wizard was introduced some time after the original G3 model came out. It can be SIM unlocked for free, but not CID. It features a different bootloader(a little program that loads Windows) type, that we currently cannot unlock. You can however get a G4 CID unlock by visiting http://www.imei-check.eu, and by paying them 25 or so USD. Most any ROM can be applied to a G4 Wizard by what is called "HardSPL'ing it". HardSPL is a specially made SPL by Olipro that fakes the HTC Rom Upgrade Tool(RUU) into thinking that the Wizard has no CID lock placed on it, when in reality it does. If you go the IMEI check route, you do not need to HardSPL your device. HardSPL can be downloaded from this thread:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=332320 . READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!! You can SIM unlock your G4 Wizard by using either the Wizard Service Tool(WST) or by using Lokiwiz 0.3, available from here:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=265928 . MORE INFO ON ROM UPGRADING BELOW.
QUESTION 2-Okay, so what does SIM and CID mean anyways?
ANSWER=SIM stands for Subscriber Identity Module(most of the time, some people have different definitions), and its the little piece of plastic that you put into your Wizard under the battery that lets you make phone calls, use the internet etc. You get one when you sign up for GSM phone service from a company. If your current phone DOES NOT use SIM cards, then you are on a CDMA network(in the US they are Sprint, Alltel, Verizon and others) and the Wizard WILL NOT work with your cellular service. Whenever you buy a GSM phone, it is usually "locked" to a specific carrier, meaning that you cannot put a different carriers SIM card into the handset and makes calls with it. SIM unlocking means taking away this lock, and enabling you to use a SIM card from any GSM provider to make calls etc.
CID stand for Carrier Identification. Basically it is a little file contained within the bootloader of the phone that says what carrier the phones ROM, or OS is signed to. For example, a CID locked T-Mobile MDA can only be upgraded with an official T-Mobile ROM upgrade package. Trying to use an un-official one, or one from another carrier will result in an error message, and a failed upgrade. CID unlocking, or for G4 devices, HardSPL'ing simply re-writes this file to read that the device is not signed to ANY carrier, and that it may accept any and all ROM upgrades, regardless of who they come from. Carriers do this to protect liscensing agreements that they may have with software providers, since most carrier ROMs contain a bunch of bloatware and un-neccesary software out of the box, and if you use a different carriers ROM, than that carrier is not making the money they should. Also, different carrier ROMs have different settings for things like voicemail numbers, and internet connections.
QUESTION 3-Okay, thats all well and good, now, how do I tell what kind of device I have? Is mine a G3 or G4?
ANSWER=The best way is to use the Wizard Service Tool(WST) and have it check your bootloaders. There is an option to do this on the main WST window. Follow the instructions within the WST thread to find out how to do this. Alternitavely, you can check your device version by looking at your bootloader versions. You can see them by turning your phone off, then turning it back on. After the initial HTC or carrier brand screen, you will see a screen with red writing in the upper left hand corner. Check your IPL/SPL against these here:
If your IPL/SPL is this format:2.26.00x, where (x) can be any number, than you have a G3 Wizard.
If your IPL/SPL is this format:2.26.000x, where (x) can be any number, than you have a G4 Wizard.
After you find out which Wizard version you have, simply follow the CID or HardSPL guide, whichever one may apply to you and BAM, CID unlocked Wizard.
QUESTION 4-Okay, I have my Wizard CID unlocked, now, which ROM is the best?
ANSWER=There is no ROM that is "the" best, only the one that is the best for you. I have written a thread the gives some information about most of the newer ROMs that can be found on the Wiki here:http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Wizard_Compatible_ROMS . It needs to be updated, but most of the big ones are there. My suggestion is to flash to one and try it out. If it doesnt work for ya, then flash to a different one and try it out instead.
END OF DOCUMENT AS OF 11:00PM EST 12/16/2008, MORE TO FOLLOW IN THE COMING DAYS!
And before I start, yes, I know that this is a futile attempt at gettin some order around here, but it makes me feel better, so there!
Also, yes, I know that this is in the Wiki, but no one reads that either...so thats another reason why I am making this.
DISCLAIMER!!!-Neither I, nor XDA-Developers, nor any of the authors or programmers of any the programs contained herein shall be held accountable or responsible for damage done to you, you Wizard, your wife/husband, dog/cat/bird/gerbil etc because of the mis-use or dumbassary that YOU ALONE cause. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
Mods/other members, PLEASE correct me or add to this as you see fit!
Ahem, now onto the guide!
QUESTION 1-How do I tell what type of Wizard I have?
ANSWER=Whether your device is called an O2 XDA, T-Mobile MDA, Qtek 9100 etc, you have an HTC model name Wizard mobile telephone device. There are however 2 versions of said device. They are called G3 and G4 devices, and their differences are as follows:
G3=The G3 type Wizard was the original type available. It can be both SIM and CID unlocked, and most any ROM can be applied to it. You can both CID and SIM unlock a G3 model with the Wizard Service Tool, available from here:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=329170 . READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO BOTH SIM AND CID UNLOCK YOUR WIZARD! More detail on ROM upgrades is below.
G4=The G4 type Wizard was introduced some time after the original G3 model came out. It can be SIM unlocked for free, but not CID. It features a different bootloader(a little program that loads Windows) type, that we currently cannot unlock. You can however get a G4 CID unlock by visiting http://www.imei-check.eu, and by paying them 25 or so USD. Most any ROM can be applied to a G4 Wizard by what is called "HardSPL'ing it". HardSPL is a specially made SPL by Olipro that fakes the HTC Rom Upgrade Tool(RUU) into thinking that the Wizard has no CID lock placed on it, when in reality it does. If you go the IMEI check route, you do not need to HardSPL your device. HardSPL can be downloaded from this thread:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=332320 . READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!! You can SIM unlock your G4 Wizard by using either the Wizard Service Tool(WST) or by using Lokiwiz 0.3, available from here:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=265928 . MORE INFO ON ROM UPGRADING BELOW.
QUESTION 2-Okay, so what does SIM and CID mean anyways?
ANSWER=SIM stands for Subscriber Identity Module(most of the time, some people have different definitions), and its the little piece of plastic that you put into your Wizard under the battery that lets you make phone calls, use the internet etc. You get one when you sign up for GSM phone service from a company. If your current phone DOES NOT use SIM cards, then you are on a CDMA network(in the US they are Sprint, Alltel, Verizon and others) and the Wizard WILL NOT work with your cellular service. Whenever you buy a GSM phone, it is usually "locked" to a specific carrier, meaning that you cannot put a different carriers SIM card into the handset and makes calls with it. SIM unlocking means taking away this lock, and enabling you to use a SIM card from any GSM provider to make calls etc.
CID stand for Carrier Identification. Basically it is a little file contained within the bootloader of the phone that says what carrier the phones ROM, or OS is signed to. For example, a CID locked T-Mobile MDA can only be upgraded with an official T-Mobile ROM upgrade package. Trying to use an un-official one, or one from another carrier will result in an error message, and a failed upgrade. CID unlocking, or for G4 devices, HardSPL'ing simply re-writes this file to read that the device is not signed to ANY carrier, and that it may accept any and all ROM upgrades, regardless of who they come from. Carriers do this to protect liscensing agreements that they may have with software providers, since most carrier ROMs contain a bunch of bloatware and un-neccesary software out of the box, and if you use a different carriers ROM, than that carrier is not making the money they should. Also, different carrier ROMs have different settings for things like voicemail numbers, and internet connections.
QUESTION 3-Okay, thats all well and good, now, how do I tell what kind of device I have? Is mine a G3 or G4?
ANSWER=The best way is to use the Wizard Service Tool(WST) and have it check your bootloaders. There is an option to do this on the main WST window. Follow the instructions within the WST thread to find out how to do this. Alternitavely, you can check your device version by looking at your bootloader versions. You can see them by turning your phone off, then turning it back on. After the initial HTC or carrier brand screen, you will see a screen with red writing in the upper left hand corner. Check your IPL/SPL against these here:
If your IPL/SPL is this format:2.26.00x, where (x) can be any number, than you have a G3 Wizard.
If your IPL/SPL is this format:2.26.000x, where (x) can be any number, than you have a G4 Wizard.
After you find out which Wizard version you have, simply follow the CID or HardSPL guide, whichever one may apply to you and BAM, CID unlocked Wizard.
QUESTION 4-Okay, I have my Wizard CID unlocked, now, which ROM is the best?
ANSWER=There is no ROM that is "the" best, only the one that is the best for you. I have written a thread the gives some information about most of the newer ROMs that can be found on the Wiki here:http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Wizard_Compatible_ROMS . It needs to be updated, but most of the big ones are there. My suggestion is to flash to one and try it out. If it doesnt work for ya, then flash to a different one and try it out instead.
END OF DOCUMENT AS OF 11:00PM EST 12/16/2008, MORE TO FOLLOW IN THE COMING DAYS!
