Running Android on the HTC HD2

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HD2 running Android Froyo

After spending a few weeks on the HD2 Android Development forums at XDA I learned how to coerce my T-MobileHTC HD2 into dual-booting Android and WinMo. As of today I’ve got Android Froyo running with few issues and reasonable battery life. In this post I’ll explain how how you can dual-boot Android and WinMo on your HD2 as well.

Forget dual-booting! Learn how to direct boot Android on the HD2 for faster booting, better battery life and frequent updates.

First, flash the boot loader. Doing so will allow you to replace windows mobile with custom roms better suited for running Android. I’ve flashed three HD2′s with Cotulla’s HSPL3 boot loader and haven’t had any issues.

Warning: Flashing the boot loader may void your warranty, though you can uninstall HSPL3 by rerunning the HSPL3 setup and choosing the standard SPL 2.08.0000 option.

With the new boot loader installed, flash the windows rom. Find a good replacement rom that will load Android quickly and run it stably. Roms I’ve found worked well with the HD2 Android builds are Miri and Chucky ROMs. Check XDA and htcpedia for custom roms.

Back-up your data and reformat the SD card.

To install Android on the HD2 download and install any of the recent HD2 Android builds from the forums on XDA. My favorite builds right now are the near-stock Froyo builds created by darkstone. (Note: See my current set-up for what I’m using now.)

Once you’ve got Android installed, make running it easier. Exceller Multiple Build Loader provides a nice interface for booting into Windows or Android automatically after the phone powers on. There is also support for booting into Ubuntu, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Govern Android battery consumption. SetCPU can be used to manage clock speeds, making it easy to reduce battery drain. It can be downloaded from the Market at a cost, or here for free. (Note: Free version requires adb to install.) Try setting a “Screen Off” profile that limits the CPU usage to 245 max with an “Up Threshold” of 30, set on boot, to prevent much of the battery drain associated with sleep mode.

Tip: To install the free version of SetCPU, download it, install adb, connect the Android phone to USB, open a command line, cd to the location of the APK file and type “adb install setcpu.apk”.

If you experience issues in the Android OS, try upgrading the radio. Though something I overlooked at first, upgrading the radio helped me prevent SoD and robotic voices. Grab a new radio from the HDC HT2 Radio Rom Thread at XDA.

Warning: Flashing an incorrect radio may cause issues with your device. Ensure the radio used is compatible before updating.

With enough tweaking your phone should be running Android issue-free all day with acceptable battery life. If not, keep messing with it. Try turning off the auto-rotate option in settings, downloading a different Android build or even swapping in a newer Linux kernel image (zImage) to find what works best for you. Don’t have time? Learn from experience by checking out others’ reply signatures on the forums on XDA and htcpedia to look for their set-ups.

Here’s mine (last updated 18-Dec-10):

Device: TMOUS HTC HD2
Boot Loader: CotullaHSPL3 (SPL-2.08-HSPL)
WinMo Rom: ChuckyROM-23139-Lite.Oct.09
Radio: 2.15.50.14
Android build: darkstone SuperRAM FroYo v1.5
Launcher: EBL2.0d_PlusUbuntu

Check the direct boot Gingerbread to HD2 post for most up-to-date status using NAND.

Happy modding!

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  • kevin

    this was kinda good but I need something like a video if anybody can help please email me

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    You can get a taste of what HD2 Android will be like by simply installing it on your SD card. If you start to have problems associated with running android come back and dig in a little more.

  • closeyo

    im new to all this myself an have been trying out the differnt androids on hd2 iv been running the latest 2.2 darkstone an it working great for about 4 days then all of a sudden the screen will go white like a glare over the screen an when i try to reboot it gets stuck in boot loader screen the only way it will work again is format the card an copy it onto the card again any tips

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    If you’re using a build loader app to start Android you could try running HaRET and CLRCAD manually. Otherwise just start fresh. Letting Google keep info in sync will speed up the set-up process and more stable builds are released. Good luck!

  • Ann

    Need help, can not figure out how to download to sd card

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    Download Android build to your computer, then transfer it to the storage card using your file manager.

  • MPS

    Thanks for this info. Any ideas on what causes the phone to black out on the first run of HaRET? Not been able to get past the first 4 lines of the installation…
    I am hoping to install it on the SD card to test, so I’d like to avoid flashing a leaner WM ROM.
    Thanks,
    M

  • http://www.robharrisdesign.com Rob

    Hey, I just wanted to say thanks for your insight. I have been messing around with tons of different ROM/Radio/Android Build combinations to get rid of the SoD problem on my HD2. Updating my radio to what you mentioned did the trick.

    Rob

  • Wesley Collins

    If i can ask, how do you change the phones radio and rom? Also, how to root the android file onto your HD2? Thanks, in advance.

  • tom

    Josh, I am a telephone OS newbie and have recently purchased the HTC HD2 with windows OS for T-Mobile. If I would have known how much this system stinks I would have kept my MYTOUCH. I know absolutely nothing about flashing this or that unless I am “streaking through the quad”. PLease help with a step by step guide or video. Thanks!!!

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    @MPS: Could be a combination of issues. But the first thing to try is a different Android build.

    @Wesley: The radio and rom can be flashed using a Rom Upgrade Utility (RUU). The utility is very lightweight and is often packaged along with the radios and rom downloads. Depending on your current setup you may not be able to install custom roms without installing HSPL as described in my post.

    @tom: Check YouTube. They’ve got videos that cover a lot of these individual steps mentioned. Then just piece ‘em together. Now jump in and take advantage of that sweet piece of hardware. Try the FroyoStone V2 build.

    @Rob: Glad I could help

  • dutchie

    Winmo on my hd2 sucked.at.first day.. then i.used open market and got more.satisfied.. but now im running tge froyosense2.2 on my hd2 for 2 months now, and im still horny… wow android really woke up my hd2 hardware.. all the guys at my work with their iphoneys and winmo phones freaked out. Well its not very hard to get android working. But get urself at last a class 4 sdcard.. cause android will be running from there. This build is very stable, all the props to the guys making this possible….i’ve donated some cash.to.the guys.. they deserved it. I’ve got a 16 gig class 4 card. Maybe 100 apps installed from the droid market and still 14 gigs free, with android running on it too. Android is the bomb.. my next phone will be a phone running android native on it..screw winmo 7 on the hd3. Great hardware but winmo os is worthless…6.5 is not verybad, i must admit, but android is compare to winmo out of this world.. peace

  • Sharon

    I am so glad I found this forum. I am going to try loading this on my HTC HD2 T-Mobile phone which I am on my 5th one since April. When the 5th one arrives in a few days I am going to go through these steps and hopefully stop looking STUPID on my 1st smart phone. My HTC HD2 called the president of my bank at 3:30 am this morning AT HOME! Needless to say, I was asleep. WINMO SUCKS ROCKS! Never again!

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    Funny you mention that, Sharon. Before I blew away the stock winmo ROM my phone was mysteriously calling people form time to time as well.

  • Rockstar

    After installing Android
    2.2 on HD2, I got a message to install OTA_Bravo_HTC_EU_2.10.405.2.2-2.09.405.8_release567cypyiofeo4th5.zip… This seems like an older version of Android. Can an update be preformed or should updates be turned off?

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    All builds are different. If possible, turn off any update feature in the build you’re using. Otherwise, just try a different build.

  • adt

    for some reason my internet doesn’t connect. Please help.

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    You may need to set your APN depending on the Android build downloaded. This can be done manually by:

    Go to Settings > Wireless & networks > Mobile networks > Access Point Names and look for an item in the list. If the list of APNs is blank and you are a T-Mobile user create a new APN with the following settings:

    Name: T-Mobile US
    APN: epc.tmobile.com
    Proxy: (leave blank)
    Port: (leave blank)
    Username: (leave blank)
    Password: (leave blank)
    Server: (leave blank)
    MMSC: http://mms.msg.eng.t-mobile.com/mms/wapenc
    MMS Proxy: (leave blank)
    MMS Port: (leave blank)
    MMS Protocol: WAP 2.0
    MCC: 310
    MNC: 260
    APN Type: (leave blank)

    If you’re not using T-Mobile try Googling the settings for your carrier. Finally, if adding a new APN doesn’t work for you consider flashing the radio. I’ve read that the recently released 2.14.50 radio may improve internet connectivity. Good luck!

  • adt

    thanks Josh. I’ll try that.

  • adt

    Josh, I followed your instructions to add the new APN. Now the 3G work . Thanks again dude.

  • cheryl

    When I attempted to add the new apn, the screen is blank and wont let me add a new one. am I missing a step?

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    From the APNs screen, press the Windows button. A menu should pop-up with an option to add the New APN.

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  • Chandra

    Hi Josh
    Thanks for this thread mate. My phone doesn’t go beyond first 4-5 lines and ends up turning black. I have to reset it by pulling the battery out. I have boot loader flashed to HSPL3.
    I thought it might be the radio (which is 2.7.xx) but when I try to flash radio to 2.8 or any higher I end up with an error.
    Your post says to flash stock WM ROM to Miri or Chucky.
    1)Do you think that is what I am missing?
    2)Do you know which is better radio? I am on UK TMobile.
    Thanks again.

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    If you have the same problem with other builds consider upgrading your radio. Start at the main HD2 thread on XDA and start looking for a new radio compatible with your device.

  • Chandra

    Actually it is not allowing me to flash anything and gives error (262). It does’t matter whether I flash Radio or ROM.
    I tried to flash the radio through sd card (by renaming RUU_signed.nbh as leoimg.nbh) but it is stuck at white screen with ‘Loading…’ on it. It is there for last 30 minutes…
    It is driving me crazy now….

  • N0odles

    Hey i have downloaded the Android on to the Hd2 everything works but when i make a call or someone calls me they all sound robotic is there a fix for it. I heard flshing a radion will help but i don’t know. How safe is it to flash a rom on the phone.

    thanks

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    @Chandra: Be sure you’ve flashed your boot loader with HSPL3 before attempting to update the Radio or ROM. I’ve found that the stock boot loader, at least on the TMOUS devices, would stop at the Loading… screen until this was done.

    @N0odles: I have flashed the radio ROM and winmo ROM many times and have never had any problems. Be sure to check compatibility with your device before flashing.

  • Robert

    Thanks Josh!!! I was having trouble with receiving MMS and your recommendation to try the recently released 2.14.50 radio worked perfectly!!!!!!

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    No prob. Looks like the 2.15 radio is out now too. It’s being shipped with replacement units from T-Mobile. This post from XDA contains links to both the European and US versions: http://goo.gl/WqvT

  • Will

    Hey I just added android to my HD2, which is awesome, but once the phone goes to sleep I have to reset it. The soft keys light up and the backlight on the phone comes on but that’s pretty much it. Is there anyway to fix this problem.

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    Sounds like Sleep of Death (SoD). You can stop that from happening by upgrading your radio. Info on doing so can be found in the above article.

  • http://www.infernity.guildportal.com daniel

    uhm.. how do i fix the calls? because when i call or receive a call, they sound like chipmunks.

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    Try upgrading the radio as discussed in the post.

  • Robert

    Josh, have you tried 2.15 radio?

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    Yep. Been using the 2.15 radio over a week now.

  • Nancy

    hi i have the android saved on mi sd card n it seems like everytime i use android my internet doesnt work,unless its on wifi and i dont want to rely on wifi for internet any suggestions to fix this

  • andy

    i installed all ready but why when i push power of and when i turn on the phone my phone start with wm 6.5 i have to open always the haret why????

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    @Nancy: If you’re not getting data service check your APN settings.

    @andy: The way Android works currently on the HD2 the phone will always boot into WM before booting into Android. You can streamline this process by using a launcher program like Exceller Multiple Build Loader, as mentioned in the post. If the launcher is installed but not functioning properly try reinstalling the loader or changing your WM custom ROM (if one).

  • andy

    the audio on my hd2 doesn’t work ,i can hear the people like robots also the music is going fast know i read i have to upgrade my radio ,and my radio is update already with 2.15.5014 i have to change my version or the problem is other ,if this is the problem what version i have to use?

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    If CLRCAD is not run before HaRET the phone goes into a turbo-like mode and music will play faster than usual in Android. However, that may not explain the robotic voices. Given your using a newer radio, if running CLRCAD before HaRET isn’t doing the trick try changing the WinMo ROM and/or Android build being used.

  • Moses

    hi am so confused at the moment i have bn to a lot of sites but all i am getting are threads for TMOUS…could some pls help me on getting android on my htc hd2 for the UK. am currently running the manila version my radio version is 2.07.51.22_2. Thanks in advance

  • ali

    Hey Josh. Where do I find those ChuckyROM-23139-Lite.Oct.09, NexusHD2-FRG83D_V1.7_(Froyo 2.2.1) and Radio: 2.15.50.14 on xda forums. I’ve been on that forum, tried doing search, but can’t seem to find them. Can you post a link for each one of them please. Will really appreciate it. Thanks!

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    @Moses: The steps for UK should be the same, though you will likely need to set the APN for your carrier manually.
    @ali: Links now included in the post. Thanks for the suggestion.

  • Redsbaron

    Hi I have justed landed here, scanned through the postings and want to know as at todays date, what should I install on my HTC HD2 as a stable OS that is worth wile, please.
    Presently WM6.5 installed. BTW, Have a 4gb Sandisk MicroSD HC card on board.

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    I’ve been regularly updating my configuration and have linked off to all of the items I’m running near the bottom of my post. Only downside to my current configuration is occasional soft rebooting to kill intermittent robotic voice and fast battery drain w/o setcpu running.

  • Dean

    Josh, I am using the Android 2.1 and my phone was updated to the newest of everything on 10/10 ROM:3.14.xxx.xxx and Radio:2.15.xx.xx I am having the same issues with my voice calls (robotic sounds). When I run CLRAD first even before I run HARIET all the audibles (ringer and such) are disabled. Any clue on a fix for this issue.
    Thanks,
    Dean

  • Alyssa

    OMG ur amazing my internet was working and i so happen to read what u told another person about the APN worked perfect for me keep up the good work thanks!

  • http://www.habdas.org/ Josh

    Thanks Alyssa.

    @Dean: If you’re still using the stock 3.14.531.1 rom consider swapping that out with a cooked winmo rom as described in my post. Maybe try the newest version of ChuckyDroidROM?

  • Dean

    Josh,
    I am still using the rom ypou listed above, I have tried everything I know to do. Since the update was done my phone has acted posessed, it has randomly called people even when I am not on the phone (that is just crazy for a phone to dial a number on it’s own). I think my phone is going back and they will give me another to replace it, I will try to do it on the new phone. if you could email me directions on how to flash a custom ROM to my phone that would be helpful, I am not a person that can do this without instructions.
    Thanks,
    Dean

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