OTA suxx

[syntagm]

Over the air upgrades suxx big time. I am denied the right to upgrade when I can and even the decision to pay for the airtime if I want to do so. After a week of just getting "your software is up to date" which everyone knows it is not - I am fed up. I have tried during every day part imaginable with NO success.
Oh! and did I mention OTA suxx.

[mjwitter]

Just apply the update yourself..

[syntagm]

I have read everything I can about it. Some aspects worry me, like the fact that my software version seems to 1.15 and I need to go via 1.21 to get to 2.2. That bit is OK until you realise that 1.21 is probably a Bravo ROM. Now that may be OK but I see no evidence (yet) that it has been found to be OK. Also losing my settings is not an appealing idea if it can be avoided.

[ColinR]

Was painless doing the 1.15 -> 1.21 -> 2.2

[syntagm]

Please tell me more. Like


What appened to your settings?
Was it on a Desire>
how long did it take?
did you follow the instructions elsewhere on this forum?


Any walk throughs I can look at?

[DJNgoma]

:erm:

How to update an HTC Desire to Froyo Manually (No root required) (http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/256278-How-to-update-an-HTC-Desire-to-Froyo-Manually-(No-root-required))

Doesn't see so hard to me.

[syntagm]

No - you are right - it is not that hard.
It was the the unaccounted for risks that worried me and I needed just a few reassurances like these that some got it right. I see 1.21 (145 MB) is almost double the size of 2.2, One more thing. My phone is unbranded and I love it that way.

[DJNgoma]

Glad all went well, there hardly any problems that do occur if you do take caution.

[mjwitter]

No - you are right - it is not that hard.
It was the the unaccounted for risks that worried me and I needed just a few reassurances like these that some got it right. I see 1.21 (145 MB) is almost double the size of 2.2, One more thing. My phone is unbranded and I love it that way.

Hmm, my update (the zip file) to 1.21 was 27.1 MB, so I hope you are using the correct file? 2.2 zip file is 90.1 MB. Although you could be using a different update method, which could explain it?

These were the names of the files I used, version numbers (from and to) are in the names:
OTA_Bravo_HTC_WWE_1.21.405.2-1.15.405.4_release_P4ohim1mtp6zggcyon.zip
OTA_Bravo_Froyo_HTC_WWE_2.09.405.8-1.21.405.2_release4dua3bcrut4wrv30.zip

[ravage]

Hmm, my update (the zip file) to 1.21 was 27.1 MB, so I hope you are using the correct file? 2.2 zip file is 90.1 MB. Although you could be using a different update method, which could explain it?

These were the names of the files I used, version numbers (from and to) are in the names:
OTA_Bravo_HTC_WWE_1.21.405.2-1.15.405.4_release_P4ohim1mtp6zggcyon.zip
OTA_Bravo_Froyo_HTC_WWE_2.09.405.8-1.21.405.2_release4dua3bcrut4wrv30.zip

if u use the .exe update for 1.21 its 145mb (i used it and it worked fine)

[Shah33m]

Hmm, my update (the zip file) to 1.21 was 27.1 MB, so I hope you are using the correct file? 2.2 zip file is 90.1 MB. Although you could be using a different update method, which could explain it?

These were the names of the files I used, version numbers (from and to) are in the names:
OTA_Bravo_HTC_WWE_1.21.405.2-1.15.405.4_release_P4ohim1mtp6zggcyon.zip
OTA_Bravo_Froyo_HTC_WWE_2.09.405.8-1.21.405.2_release4dua3bcrut4wrv30.zip

i used the 27mb and 90mb updates for my desire, worked perfectly and took about 10-15 mins to complete both updates

[syntagm]

This was not the right file and gave a signature verification error. I am now downloading the 27 MB version. There were no recovery problems in getting back to the starting line. Thank you for all your posts. I all helps to make us independent. Well sort of....

[syntagm]

I keep getting signed verification or whole file verification failed and then it aborts

[Shah33m]

maybe because its a branded phone?

[syntagm]

I did not think it was. Maybe my understanding of what is branded and what is not is faulty?

[cyb3rt]

I keep getting signed verification or whole file verification failed and then it aborts

I have not done the official updates. But if you use the same recovery, you'll see there when you go into "install zip from sdcard", there is a option that says "toggle signature verification", select it and then try the update again.

[Shah33m]

did you copy it to the sdcard or to the sdcard in a folder? it shouldnt be in any folders

[syntagm]

All the while I have been trying to get the OTA to work. I keep getting the same message 'your phone is up to date'. I have tried calling Vodacom. They send you from pillar to post. I have tried LEAF they send you to Vodacom. I have gone to VodaWorld they shake their heads. The 1.21 executable going through SYNCH does not want to execute. I appreciate everyone's help on the forum - I really do. However, what was easy and straightforward for some may not be so for others. There are too many variables in this system. Right now I think the issue is "branding" and I may have to create a goldcard. This is silly since it is just a matter of the vendors helping their customers but I guess that is asking too much.

[rorz0r]

Was painless doing the 1.15 -> 1.21 -> 2.2

+1
With the 27ish mb file and then the 90ish mb file (on an MTN phone).

[syntagm]

I have been sent from pillar to post by both HTC and Vodacom. Most of Vodacom don't know what I am talking about and suggest I take my handset in to VodaCare who will keep it for 72 hours while they do the upgrade. Ha Ha! That flies in the face of what is published elsewhere. In the meantime the executable 1.21 I downloaded will not execute. So it is not always that easy as it all seems. I suspect me phone is then branded although no branding is visible or evident. I repeat OTA suxx and it would have been so much easier just to make the upgrade available on the far side of HTC SYNCH like the iPHONE does. What the manufacturers and networks don't get is the fact that I am not talking about a device that can phone people anymore. My handset is now in integral part of my business.

[syntagm]

No - directly to the SD card. No folders. It was visible for execution but aborted.

[syntagm]

rorz0r: Did you do any debranding?

[syntagm]

cyb3rt: makes sense and will try. Thankx

[cyb3rt]

cyb3rt: makes sense and will try. Thankx

Yeah sorry nothing else I can think of, thats the only place that I have seen anything 'signature' related... Let us know.

[syntagm]

It did not give the toggle option. It tries to verify the update file and then fails with the message "failed to verify whole-file signature"

[cyb3rt]

It did not give the toggle option. It tries to verify the update file and then fails with the message "failed to verify whole-file signature"

Only 2 options left then...

1. Be happy with how it is now.
2. ROOT ;)

[syntagm]

Way to go. However, that is letting the vendors off the hook. My stance is they should support their paying customers with the service we deserve. I paid for my handset and I am paying my contract. What more do I have to do. I'll give it a day or two and see what happens. With Gingerbread coming in two months time I don't think I have the patience to go through all this again.

[alt146]

Way to go. However, that is letting the vendors off the hook. My stance is they should support their paying customers with the service we deserve. I paid for my handset and I am paying my contract. What more do I have to do. I'll give it a day or two and see what happens. With Gingerbread coming in two months time I don't think I have the patience to go through all this again.

I doubt we will see a gingerbread ROM any time this year - remember Froyo's official launch was a couple of months ago already - after the launch the first build has to be released, then sent to the manufacturers who have to customise it. The launch is more of a press event and just lets people know what features will be in the new build.

[cyb3rt]

I doubt we will see a gingerbread ROM any time this year - remember Froyo's official launch was a couple of months ago already - after the launch the first build has to be released, then sent to the manufacturers who have to customise it. The launch is more of a press event and just lets people know what features will be in the new build.

The custom ROMs were out a couple of days after the release date. So for me, its all good :)

[rorz0r]

rorz0r: Did you do any debranding?

Nope. Just copied the 20mb as update.zip, did the procedure, copied the 90mb file and did it again. (I did back up stuff but there was no need).

Honestly you're not missing out on much if you don't upgrade. 1.21 added quickoffice though which you might find useful.

[syntagm]

Sometimes it is difficult to find answers for the simpler questions. I can't get a good discussion about branded vs debranded. Perhaps it is too obvious. Simple question: how do I know my phone is branded? How can I verify that it is unbranded after debranding?

[syntagm]

I need 2.2 mostly because the memory on the phone itself is running close to capacity. As I understand it moving apps to the SD card is only possible on 2.2. There are anecdotal claims that signal strength is better on 2.2 and the speed is somewhat improved in some cases. My experience is that you keep up with upgrades because it is all easier in the end when the real improvements are landed.

[Shah33m]

(possible) differences:
- Start up/power down screen + sound
- custom themes + sounds
- bookmarks
- pre-set destinations (connections)
- pre-installed apps
- and most important: product code
- something I missed

The most annoying part of a branded phone is the different product code. If your provider won't release a certain fw for their phones you may not get updates everyone else already has. You can change your product code but at the risk of losing your warrenty.
(dailymobile.se)

if you have a vodacom phone then this might be the case, i dont think mtn brand there phones??

[syntagm]

Best test seems to be to put a sim from another network in and see if the call goes through or not!

[syntagm]

Status Update:
1. It has been 17 days (since 1 August) that I have been checking for an OTA upgrade
2. I have lost count of how many times I actually check
3. I am waiting for both the network and the manufacturer to answer my query
4. The support from forum members have been absolutely great
5. I hope this thread will get owners with similar difficulties to pressure for a solution
6. If you have similar experiences just drop a note on the thread
Thank you all............................................... .........................

[syntagm]

Status update #2
At last I have had an official repsonse - this time from HTC.com (no less). It goes like this:
The Android 2.2(Froyo) is not yet available on the website for downloads but is being released as Over The Air. The release is not yet official and it is being released on random bases. you will just receive a notification on your phone saying you can now download to Upgrade. If you do not receive as OTA you will still get it from our website. From our website (www.htc.com), you can select Middle East and Africa section. You select the products section and you choose your phone. You will see the upgrades and updates available for your phone. At the current moment we are still working on the FROYO so it is not yet available on the site. The upgrades for your phone you can do them by yourself by just following instructions in the site but in the case of a downgrade that is installing a lower version of the software than that on the phone.

[syntagm]

14 days after my first post and 7 days after the last and it still suxx (bigtime). No word from anyone in a position of authority will to stick their necks out with something that looks like a commitment. I don't want a favour just something like " Look Bud you'll have a statement on 1 September that sets milestones"

[Fudzy]

syntagm:

Goto Settings -> About phone -> Software information

Write out what you have there.

[syntagm]

Firmware 2.1 update1
32.30.0028u_4.05.00.11
2.6.29-3cd....
1.15.1104.14

[alt146]

Firmware 2.1 update1
32.30.0028u_4.05.00.11
2.6.29-3cd....
1.15.1104.14

I assume you have read through everything in this thread (http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/256278-How-to-update-an-HTC-Desire-to-Froyo-Manually-%28No-root-required%29).

The problem with getting a definite date for the official OTA is that leaf is busy negotiating with the service providers to have the OTA delivered free of charge. Officially we're not supposed to have the update yet.

I see you tried to update to 1.21 using the .exe that works over the USB cable - have you tried using the .zip that you put on the phone? All the files are linked to in that thread.

[syntagm]

Thank you for the answer.
I have tried both the executable and the zip.
Neither worked.
I worked through the instructions in the thread meticulously step-by-step.
As I wrote 'there are too many variables unaccounted for in what works for others'

I appreciate the effort to make the OTA available free of charge
My mobile is part of my business model. I just cannot wait that long.
There are things in FroYo I need as soon as possible.

[Fudzy]

Thank you for the answer.
I have tried both the executable and the zip.
Neither worked.
I worked through the instructions in the thread meticulously step-by-step.
As I wrote 'there are too many variables unaccounted for in what works for others'

I appreciate the effort to make the OTA available free of charge
My mobile is part of my business model. I just cannot wait that long.
There are things in FroYo I need as soon as possible.

Where did the executable stop working? Did it ask for a device driver?

[farhaadS]

I did the update to Froyo and it went smoothly. Had no issues.

[syntagm]

Apologies for the delayed response.
1. where did it stop woking? I will have to retrace and make notes but no I did not even get that far.
2. Successful FroYo update: On the handset or via the ROM? If on the handset were you sent a prompt to update or did you just check for the availability of an update?

thanks again to all you contribute answers.

[syntagm]

Spring Day update: No sensible replies from HTC anywhere. Unkept promise from their local call center to let me know what's up. No scheduled updates for my handset. No notification that upgrading will happen sometime. Some anecdotal reports of success. Just does not make sense to treat your user base like mushrooms?

[syntagm]

Farhaad: tell me more please

[syntagm]

OTA still suxx. Nothing has happened and nothing is happening all day long. No word from HTC. No word form LEAF. In fact no word full stop.

[cyb3rt]

You would have spared yourself so much trouble just by rooting the phone and doing whatever you liked.

[syntagm]

cyb3rt: You are so right! However - I tried and it failed. I am going to try the Gold card route as soon as I can pop-in and get the right spec SD card. The steps required is quite daunting though if you are doing all this for the first time. The instructions for the alternative (non-gold card route) I followed to a T but ran aground.

[cyb3rt]

Well, don't know what you have tried. But HERE (http://android.modaco.com/content/htc-desire-desire-modaco-com/307365/14-jun-r6-riskfreeroot-htc-desire-rooting-guide-now-with-hboot-0-80-and-os-to-1-21-support/) is the guide I used to root, also a total noob with all this so its not very complicated. Its the r6 method from MoDaCo.

[syntagm]

Thanks cyb3rt. I will follow those instructions carefully, make notes and record my experience here. Hopefully a successful one. Everyday a check for an OTA upgrade, several times. Everyday I am disappointed. I really think paying handset owners deserve better. My memory is up to capacity. I need some of the 2.2 features urgently and Gingerbread is already on the radar.

[syntagm]

Goldcard update: everything worked right up to adb devices which produced the HTnumber. Then it failed to execute cat/sys/class/etc.......... First of all the prompt was a # and not a $ as per instructions everywhere. The SD card's ID remains a mystery. No resource explains the difference between the prompts # or $ that I could find. All the workarounds failed as well. So I'm stuck once again. BTW I thought it could be a 64 bit issue and then found the same problem on my 32 bit laptop.

[syntagm]

Goldcard update: I hope this is helping someone. Think of it as a walkthrough: The problem was that the cmd prompt has to run as administrator. That is fixed by going to accessories and opening up properties and going on from there.

[cyb3rt]

Good to hear, so how did it go further?

[syntagm]

ROM Update: The Goldcard eventually got done and as far as I can tell. it works as expected. The old Root method has been obsoleted and there is a new one via rEVOked. In theory it is better in practice it has challenges. Presently I am stuck at the HBOOT USB phase. My Desire reboots itself before rEVOked can complete its tasks. I am doing a lot of reading at present but am non the wiser. I may go back to the old method as a last resort. While some people sail through the steps without breaking a sweat others (like me) have to sweat it out.

[syntagm]

erratum: instead of rEVOked please read unrEVOked.

[syntagm]

Update on Root problem: It is not entirely clear that unrEVOked will work as explained ina 64 bit environment. Looking for references to this but not finding any.

[syntagm]

The Last post: I am the happy owner of Superuser status. Here is what I learnt:
1. Almost every case is unique because of all the variables
2. If it worked for X it may not work for Y
3. If it doesn't work there is a reason - find it
4. Someone on a forum will have the answer
5. Not all the answers are correct
6. I wanted control so badly I never gave up
7. Things can go wrong but these machines are quite robust
8. Modaco is a gem but their r8 corrupts during download (huge file). The checksums don't check out
9. Things are getting easier
10. OTA still suxx.

[syntagm]

Update

1. Cyanogen MOD 6.0 is stable (for me) and working 100%
2. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) won three critical exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) anticircumvention provisions today, carving out new legal protections for consumers who modify their cell phones and artists who remix videos — people who, until now, could have been sued for their non-infringing or fair use activities.
3. OTA continues to SUCK

[cyb3rt]

1. Cyanogen MOD 6.0 is stable (for me) and working 100%

How long have you been running it? I ran it for about a day and I got weird problems with the phone just not unlocking, screen just stayed black and you have to pull the battery.... Saw a bunch of other guys also had it on the XDA forums.