HTC Desire Android 2.3 update – installation guide and gallery

We’re going to do it. We’re going to sit here for the next couple of hours and update our HTC Desire with the new 2.3 update that’s just been released by HTC today. Here’s what happens. The update may contain swearing as we’re not particularly technical when it comes to things like this.

Here’s what you need:

• HTC’s Desire 2.3 bundle from the HTC Dev site
• HTC Sync for the Desire
• A PC, USB cable and some precious time

Also, just so you know, our HTC Desire is a standard O2 branded model complete with O2 boot screen and the original, untouched, official 2.2 release. Oh yes, we like to keep things official.

To explain the process for anyone unsure what to do – this update comes as an executable PC file, which updates your HTC Desire over a USB connection. You download the stuff, open it on a PC, then run the “RUU_HTC Desire Android 2.3 Upgrade (Gingerbread).exe” file while your Desire is connected via USB.

AGGGHHHHH. So be prepared for this to take quite a long time. You need HTC Sync installed on your PC as well as HTC’s RUU file, which is another huge 150MB+ download, plus your HTC Desire needs to have at least 30% of battery power to initiate the update process.

Meet the criteria, though, and it’s an easy task. The updater tool walks you through the steps and it’s entirely automated. Just try not to panic.

 

And this is it. Version 3.14.405.1 according to the updater. As mentioned by HTC, the big omission here is the Facebook app, which you now have to install yourself if you have nothing better to do with your phone’s memory.

 

The O2 branding has been removed as well, leaving us with a generic HTC Desire that features the HTC boot screen. HTC’s Peep Twitter client is still on here, as it HTC’s App Sharing tool, plus Footprints and its Friend Stream social aggregator.

 

Fast boot! That’s a new thing. Gmail, YouTube and the Maps suite remain, although HTC’s Flashlight app has been removed – but the APK is supplied in the update file if you want to install it yourself.

 

Given the absence of a detailed changelog from HTC, we’re not entirely sure what else has been chopped. Flash Player support is still in, which is good news – although the 10.3 update that’s on the Android Market will need to be installed if you want the latest version, which will significantly eat into your available memory.

 

There are no newer HTC Sense features. The Notifications panel is unchanged, as is the boring old HTC Sense lock screen. Those hoping for any of the jazzy newer Sense tools or apps will be disappointed.

Phone performance is as solid as ever. We never had any issues with the HTC Desire on 2.2 and it seems as fast and robust as ever. But bear in mind we’re literally tearing through it as fast as possible and have only had it for about an hour…

 

We’re showing 117MB of app storage space available, that’s with only Quadrant installed to take the above benchmark and iPlayer to see if Flash content works. Any questions?

Preparing your Android Phone Before Upgrading Firmware

Upgrading your phones firmware and getting bunch of new features is really exited thing but new firmware comes with many problem.
You will lost your almost important data, settings and applications. so before upgrading we have to create complete backup of our data and some other task like -preparing pc. below you can see complete guide of preparing phone before upgrading.

Please follow all steps of this guide , because it is essential for every android phone before upgrading / installing firmware.

(1)  Check your phone compatibility

The first and most important thing is to check your phone’s current firmware version and status of sim to ensure that you can update your phone or not . you can check firmware version by going to settings > about phone .
Other factor is if your phone is locked with network like T-Mobile , AT&T or any of your area. Then it is Probably possible  that you can’t update your phone with the firmware of unlocked and international version phone. check your phone network lock status by following this very basic guide –

1. Did your phone have any company logo on it ?
2. Do you purchased your phone from a mobile operator store ?
3. Do you got your phone under contract with any sim provider ?
4. Does your phone blocks when you insert another operators sim ?
5. Do you see mobile operators logo when you switch on/off your phone ?

If any one or more question’s answer is "YES" then it is confirmed your phone is locked with network and you need to skip normal update process . Wait for particular network firmware update

(2)  Backup things

Note: While upgrading phone manually or installing any leaked/beta/unofficial firmware , please make backup with the methods below. pc suite software for your phone will not recognize your phone after upgrade and you will not able to restore your backup created by your phone’s pc suite (e.g. for Samsung KIES)
I). Backing up phone data
Updating firmware process will delete all data from your phone like – message,contacts,calendar . So we have to make backup on sd card or on pc or on online backup service. You can follow this Guide to Know about backing up your phone data before upgrading.

How to Backup Android Phone data before Upgrading Firmware

II). Making phone apps backup
Upgrading firmware will also delete your pre-installed and purchased apps , to get these apps back you can make your apps backup. Please note that you need to root your phone to make this backup and restore it. Follow this article below –

How to Make Full Android Backup with Titanium Backup, and How to Restore it

III). Backing up APN settings
Updating firmware also restores MMS and APN settings of your mobile operator. To backup these settings you can go to Applications > Settings > Wireless and Network > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names and write down these settings on paper , after upgrade reconfigure them manually  OR use this recommended site to get settings in seconds

(3)  Charge your phone

This is the most essential thing while upgrading firmware , before doing anything with your phone please charge your phone battery at least 75% .
if your phone switched off during update process then you will have a nice brick (dead phone)

(4)  Preparing Your PC

1. Very important thing, remove / completely disable all software that are used with your phone, on PC . This will prevent other softwares to interfere in firmware flashing
2. Install all needed drivers of your phone to work updater software properly (For samsung android phones you can use these drivers)
3. Check that you have right updater software version, before following the updating guide
4. Make sure you have administrator permission on pc in order to work updater software properly
5. Also Stop any antivirus , firewall software on your computer

(5) Remove SIM and SD card

Many people don’t follow this step and it can cause many problems , so I highly recommend to remove memory card and SIM

that’s all , you are ready to start firmware installing process. If you faced any problem feel free to ask it via leaving comments below