01 June 2012

Lenzfire

Lenzfire

How to Install OrDroid or Elegancia ROMs in HTC Sensation (4G/XE)

Posted: 30 May 2012 02:06 PM PDT

Last week we have seen a thumb size Android mini CPU. But this time I wish to deliver a A-Z tutorial to install custom ROM in HTC Sensation. Recently, I have read some tutorials in other websites, but while reading them I felt that the tutorials were not complete. That’s why I thought of writing this tutorial.

Before going into the subject let me say you clearly that I’m not an expert in the range of developing ROMs, to be frank, I was a beginner in these fields a month before. It’s human nature that we learn things or we create our interest in them, only when we need them utterly. Recently I bought HTC Sensation from eBay. Before that I was using Samsung Galaxy, along with GO launcher. Since most of the features of GO launcher or GO sms pro apps were copied from HTC Sense. I wanted to give HTC a try. Moreover I got a fantastic offer, that’s why I’d gone with HTC Sensation.

We, android users have no limitations in customizing our mobile, starting from wallpapers to launchers. I used to install several launchers and skins, then I’ll change a skin atleast a week. So, if we have a chance to try different ROMs, then will we be satisfied with the stock! Definitely I won’t be! So I started searching for the best ROM to start with.

First I searched the android websites which I usually refer for any procedures regarding upgrading Beta ROM for Samsung Galaxy. Obviously I have found several tutorials, but after reading them, I didn’t gain the required confidence to touch any ROM upgrading related operations. Then I found that, most of these stuff arise from XDA developers forums. There are lots and lots of experts, who are releasing a new ROM or an upgrade almost daily. After going there I just can’t able to decide, which ROM I should choose. My stock Android version is 2.3.4 and Sense version is 3.0.

I was searching for ROMs that have sense 3.5, but to my surprise there are many ROMs getting released with Sense 4.0. Among those I chose two, OrDroid and Elegancia ROM with Sense 4.0. I got stuck with first step itself, that is to S-off and root my phone. I can see some indifferent reactions on your face. Ya, that’s what my reaction when I heard the term S-Off. Because I had already heard the word ‘root’ but not S-off and Super CID.

If you want to know why should we do S-off, Root, Super CID? Here it goes…

It’s not necessary to learn the meaning of those words, as they are just one time operation or procedure. But if you need to learn what’s the meaning, then …

By default your device will be in S-ON state, which does not allow you to write on some areas, also it is responsible for signature check of firmware files, and in this state you cannot have a permanent root. So you need to S-off your device first.

Like other OSs Android too have disabled certain features to prevent any mishap by the casual users. By rooting, you will be given complete access or full rights, such as the right to read/write system storage or internal memory, overclock the processor, GPU, increase or decrease the voltage applied across the processor either for overclocking or to reduce the clock speed. (Clock speed is nothing but the frequency level at which the processor operates eg: 1 GHz or 1.5 GHz – Increasing this frequency which is set at default in factory is termed as overclocking – Overclocking will increase the speed of the processor.)

Now let’s see about Super CID. CID stands for Carrier Identification. It’s a number, which governs the function of “which ROM should be allowed to be installed and which should not be allowed”. This is the reason, why you cannot install Vodafone ROM on T-Mobile. Now you could have guessed what will this Super CID do. It changes all the digits in the number to 1s, like 11111111. So after Super CID your mobile will be ready to digest any ROM into it. I guess that I have developed some confidence as well as curiosity inside you now to try different Custom ROMS in your HTC Sensation variants.

OrDroid - custom rom for HTC Sensation with Android 4.0 and Sense 4.0

So the process goes like this.

  1. S-Off
  2. Install Recovery Software (Clock Work Mod )
  3. Root
  4. Super CID
  5. Instal 4EXT
  6. Install other necessary files.
  7. Install Custom ROM

Before going into the detailed steps let me make you clear of one thing, this tutorial applies to any HTC Sensation, Sensation XE and Unlocked Sensation 4G mobiles only.

Step by Step Tutorial to Install Custom ROM in HTC Sensation (4G or XE) mobile

Initial Precautions

  • Backup Contacts, SMS, Call log. ( You may use Super Backup app from Play Store)
  • Run in Windows 7. (In Windows 8 I’m not able to install USB drivers, so better avoid doing this in windows 8 until Windows 8′s official release)

S-Off

    1. Go to Revolutionary.io
    2. Click on Download for Windows. (File will be downloaded)
    3. Also a Blue color box will appear below it with some drop-down menus. Like this S-off HTC sensation using Revelutionary.io
    4. Select “Your operating system” as “Windows”.
    5. Select “Your device” as “HTC Sensation”.
    6. Select “HBOOT version” (Follow the below steps to find yours).
      • In your HTC Sensation Mobile Go to Settings-> Power-> Untick Fast Boot (Disable Fast boot)
      • Switch off your device.
      • Press Volume Down key + Power button simultaneously (Hold them till the HBOOT screen appears, don’t release them till it appears, after that you may release them)
      • You can find a white screen displaying HBOOT version in second line. Like HBOOT version shown in this picture HTC Sensation HBOOT or S-Off screen
    7. Enter “Serial number” from the revolutionary software downloaded for windows.
  • Extract the zip file you downloaded from “Revolutionary” website.
  • Switch ON your phone in normal mode by selecting FASTBOOT in the bootscreen, after noting down HBOOT version (Done in S-OFF-> step 6.3)
  • Connect your phone through USB cable in HTC Sync mode. (Uninstall HTC Sync software from PC, if you have installed it already. Ignore any other messages such as “HTC sync not found”)
  • In your mobile, Go to Settings-> Applications-> Development-> Enable USB Debugging. (Tick it)
  • Run revolutionary.exe
  • It should say “Waiting for device” and should find your device and display a serial number) (If it stuck at “Waiting for device”, then it means you do not have necessary drivers to detect your mobile in USB debugging mode – Find drivers from this XDA Forum thread)
  • Enter this serial number in Blue box
    1. Click “Generate Key” in that Blue box.
    2. Copy that Beta key and enter in “Revolutionary” software command line window.
    3. Follow the on-screen instructions in “Revolutionary” software, if any
    4. Your mobile will S-OFF within 3 minutes.
    5. It will ask you to Install ClockworkMod recovery after S-Off. Type ‘N’ and then quit it.

Recovery Software Installation (CWM)

    1. Download Recovery Software – ClockworkMod Recovery PG58IMG.zip
    2. Do not extract it. Just copy this file to your SD Card directly. (NOT into any sub-folders)
    3. Switch off your phone. (See to that fast boot is disabled)
    4. Boot into HBOOT screen by pressing Volume Down Key + Power button simultaneously.
    5. After 2 seconds, it will automatically search for certain files, then it will ask you by itself to install PG58IMG.zip. Accept it. Use Volume up and Power keys accordingly to choose an option and to select it respectively.
    6. Press Power button after the process is complete. Now you will back into normal Android home screen. Now delete the PG58IMG.zip from SD card.
    7. You have successfully installed a Custom Recovery software – ClockWorkMod Recovery.

ROOT

    1. Download su-2.3.6.3-ef-signed.zip
    2. Copy this file direct into SD card (Not inside any sub folders)
    3. Switch off your mobile and boot into HBOOT screen (Vol down + Power)
    4. Select-> Recovery and press power button
    5. Clock Work Mod Recovery should load now.
    6. Navigate to “Backup and Restore” by using Vol Down key and press Power key. Then select “Backup” in the same manner.
    7. After backup is completed, Select “Install zip from SD card”
    8. Select “su-2.3.6.3-efgh-signed.zip” and confirm, to install it
    9. Go back and reboot your mobile into regular android
    10. Your mobile is rooted

Super CID

    1. Download ADB Tools-> Download for WINDOWS
    2. Create a New folder in C: and rename it to “adb”. Extract this file to ADB folder. See to that, no additional one more “adb” folder is created inside “adb” we created earlier.
    3. Press “Windows key” + R simultaneously in your computer keyboard. Type “cmd” and press enter. Command line window will be opened.
    4. Being in normal android home screen, connect your mobile to USB in charging mode. (USB debugging should be enabled)
    5. Type “cd c:adb” Super CID procedure for HTC Sensation
    6. Already “c:adb>” will be displayed in the window, now type “adb devices”. This command will confirm whether your mobile is connected, by displaying its serial number.
    7. Type “adb reboot-bootloader”, your mobile automatically boot into HBOOT screen by itself. (Or you can manually boot into HBOOT screen – To do this disconnect from USB-> Boot into HBOOT screen -> again connect the USB back)
    8. Type “fastboot oem writecid 11111111″ in cmd shell
    9. Type “fastboot reboot-bootloader” (Mobile will automatically boot into bootloader)
    10. Type “fastboot getvar cid” (It will verify whether your CID is 11111111)
    11. Type “fastboot reboot”
    12. Super CID is finished

4Ext Recovery (Better alternative to Clockworkmod recovery)

    1. Most ROMs can be installed with CWM Recovery, but to do interactive installation of ROMs, and to choose different options while installation 4EXT Recovery installation is advisable
    2. Go to 4Ext website and download 4Ext Recovery Updater
    3. Install that app. Open it. Allow Root access.
    4. Select “Online install | upgrade”
    5. It will search for latest version from its servers. If it asks “Is your model HTC Sensation XE/4G “, choose YES.
    6. Then, Install latest touch version (Touch enabled recovery software). (Do not install classic version)
    7. The version highlighted in red is the newest version. The one in yellow (if you already have this recovery) is your current version installed. And the ones in blue are older versions.
    8. Choose the latest version and press install.
    9. 4EXT recovery is installed now.
    10. Here after when you enter into recovery, you will see 4EXT touch recovery software only.

Install other necessary files before installing any Sense 4.0 ROM

    1. Download Firmware 3.32 version and move it to your SD Card inside a new folder “ROM”.
    2. Boot into HBOOT. select Recovery.  (Or open 4Ext recovery from apps ->power menu -> reboot into recovery)
    3. 4 EXT Recovery will be opened in recovery mode.
    4. Choose “Install zip from SD card”
    5. Browse to ROM>PG58IMG.zip
    6. Install it.
    7. Reboot into normal android
    8. Now you’re ready to install any Sense 3.6 or Sense 4.0 ROM

Intall OrDroid or Elegancia Custom ROM with Sense 4.0

    1. Download latest OrDroid Custom ROM or Elegancia ROM
    2. Move it to “ROM” folder, we created earlier in SD card.
    3. Boot into 4EXT Recovery using the same procedure in step 6.2
    4. Choose “Install zip from SD card”
    5. Browse to ROM>OrDroid.zip
    6. Install it. Aroma Installer will get opened.
    7. It will ask for various options you need.
    8. Choose “Perform a full wipe”, and move further. Other options are optional choose them as your wish.
    9. Some options will be mentioned as “Be Careful!”, don’t choose them for now. you may choose them later after you get to know about them completely.
    10. Once installation is over. Reboot the mobile.
    11. First time boot will take around 8 to 10 minutes exactly.
    12. Now you’re ready to experience Sense 4.0

Disclaimer:

I’m not the creator of the tutorial. I have just combined and edited the tutorials that are spread over different websites and in XDA developers site. In all of those sites, they have mentioned, they are not responsible if you brick (damage) your phone. So I’m mentioning the same here too. Be Cautious!
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