[ How to ] Install Android on HTC HD2 – Android 4.0.4

Here I have consolidate every possible resource regarding the installation of the Android 4.0.x Ice Cream Sandwich platform on the world-renown HTC HD2 right onto this blog post, and made it as simple as possible for everyone to understand. If you’re pretty tech savvy, I recommend going directly over to xda-developers.com – As it’s hands-down the best source for Android 4.0.3 ROMs currently available for the HD2. All credits go to tytung and samuaz for developing the ROM we’ll be using. Also, huge thanks to Jayce Ooi and his tremendously helpful blog. Jayce has also uploaded some really good videos on this same subject, so I encourage you to check his blog out when you’re finished here.

Disclaimer: Please follow this guide at your own risk. HTCHD2Android.com will not be liable if your device gets damaged or bricked during the process.

Here’s our latest guide to get your HTC HD2 running on Android 4.0.4. Here’s what’s working in this version:

• All Android 4.0.4 features
• All CM9 features
  • Enhanced Power Menu w/ Reboot and Screenshot options, etc.
  • Power Notification Widget
  • Trebuchet Launcher
  • T9 Dialer
  • Keep app back button in Developer options
  • Theme
  • And more
• Multi-Languages
• Root, Superuser, su, busybox, etc.
• AdFree hosts file
• Ad-Hoc Wi-Fi
• HWUI deny app and patch (thanks royale1223 and Securecrt)
• NativeSD (thanks Securecrt and Xylograph)
• DataOnEXT (thanks ph03n!x)

Lets get started!

The first thing we need to do is get you HTC HD2 running with the latest HSPL4. This is what will allow us to install the modified Android ROMs, or even Windows Phone 7.

• Download: HSPL4.zip

Once downloaded, extraxt the HS4PL.exe file somewhere accessible. You’ll be running it shortly.

Step by Step Guide to Install HS4PL:

1. With phone powered off, press and hold the volume down button (don’t let go) andpower on your phone (while holding down the volume down button)
2. Your HD2 will load into a “Red, Green, Blue and White” screen bootloader. This is normal.
3. There you’ll see your current HTC HD2 SPL version displayed on the red bar.
4. Connect USB cable from PC to phone.
5. Serial status will be turned into USB.
6. On your PC, right click on HSPL4.exe and select “Run as administrator“. If you have Windows XP simply double-click the icon, as there’s no “Run as Admin” option.
7. Click ‘Yes’ if your “User Access Control” comes up.
8. Follow on-screen instructions to install.
9. Do make sure that you select 2.08.HSPL. This is very important, as the new ROM requires it to work properly.
10. After installation, you should see “We hacked it!” displayed on your phone, as well as on your PC.

We now have to install a custom radio on your beloved HD2. This is required for your Android Install, or even Windows Phone 7 install to function properly. The only prerequisite is that you have SPL-2.08.HSPL installed on your HD2 (which we already did in Phase 1). We’ll be using the latest 2.15.50.14 Radio ROM version, but you can try others as well, as different ones may work better with your mobile carrier/service provider. To change the Radio ROM simply just repeat the process with a different one. HERE is the Radio ROM list.

• Download Radio ROM: Leo_Radio_2.15.50.14europe.rar

(You will need WinRAR to extract it)

• Download CustomRUU: CustomRUU.zip – (Short Survey Required)
  

Extract CustomRUU to the desktop. Once you download the Radio ROM, follow these steps. Again, very similar to Phase 1.

Step by Step Guide to Install Radio ROM

1. With phone powered off, press and hold the volume down button (don’t let go) andpower on your phone (while holding down the volume down button)
2. Your HD2 will load into a “Red, Green, Blue and White” screen bootloader once again.
3. There you’ll see your current HTC HD2 SPL version displayed on the red bar.
4. Connect USB cable from PC to phone.
5. Serial status will be turned into USB.
6. On your PC, right click on the CustomRUU.exe and select “Run as administrator“. Again, if using Windows XP just double-click the icon.
7. Click ‘Yes’ if your “User Access Control” comes up.
8. Follow onscreen instructions to install.
9. Phone will be rebooted after installation finished.

Unlike Phases 1 and 2, Phase 3 will erase everything on the phone, so it is advised to back everything up before proceeding.

Now we need to install our custom bootloader – MAGLDR v1.13 – which will allow us to boot off a custom Android or Windows Phone 7 ROM. Shall we continue? Lets start by downloading the latest version of MAGLDR.

• Download: MAGLDR V1.13.zip – (Short Survey Required)
  

Once downloaded, place the file somewhere easy to access – like your desktop. Now follow the steps.

Step by Step Guide to Install MAGLDR V1.13 Bootloader

1. Verify that you have the correct radio ROM (Done in previous phase).
2. With phone powered off, press and hold the volume down button (don’t let go) andpower on your phone (while holding down the volume down button)
3. Your HD2 will load into a “Red, Green, Blue and White” screen bootloader once again.
4. There you’ll see your current HTC HD2 SPL version displayed on the red bar.
5. Connect USB cable from PC to phone.
6. Serial status will be turned into USB.
7. On your PC, right click on ROMUpdateUtility.exe and select ‘Run as administrator’. You XP Guys can just double click.
8. Click ‘Yes’ if your “User Access Control” comes up.
9. Follow onscreen instructions to install.
10. Phone will be rebooted after installation finished.
11. DFT MAGLDR Bootloader will be loaded then.

For this Phase we’ll be installing ClockworkMod Recovery (CWM for short) on you HTC HD2. This is definitely a “must-have” tool, as most of the NAND Android ROMs are in CWM zip format. You’ll need to use ClockworkMod Recovery to install these zip ROMs from an SD card. Not only that, but ClockworkMod Recovery can also make full system backups and restore using Nandroid. Isn’t that awesome!?

Now, CWM comes in 3 different flavors – 150MB, 250MB, and 400MB – the one to choose depends on the requirements of the ROM we’ll be using. For this guide we’ll be using the 250MB partition, as it’s pretty sufficient for the majority of the ROMS out there. The bigger the partition size, the less space you’ll have to store files. Technically it’s best to choose a size that’s just enough for the ROM – Which is why ROM authors will specify the exact partition size needed. If you want a custom sized partition you’ll have to manually edit the flash.cfg file – but that’s not recommended unless you know what you’re doing. Lets stick with the 250MB flavor for now.

Lets begin!

• Download: ClockworkMod Recovery v1.3 – 250MB

Once downloaded, extract the files to your desktop and follow these steps.

1. Power on your phone and don’t let go of the power button. Keep it pressed.
2. DFT MAGLDR Bootloader will be loaded. Once it’s loaded you may let go of the power button.
3. Use the “Volume Down” button to scroll down to option, “5. USB Flasher.”
4. Then press the “Call” button to load ‘USB Flasher mode.’
5. Connect the USB cable from PC to phone.
6. You should see “Wait USB…USB” on your phone’s screen.
7. On your PC, find the extracted folder, right click on “DAF.exe” and select ‘Run as administrator’. Again, you XP ladies and gents just double click.
8. Click ‘Yes’ if your “User Access Control” bothers you once again.
9. Follow onscreen instructions to install.
10. Phone will be rebooted after installation is finished.
11. DFT MAGLDR Bootloader will then be loaded.
12. Disconnect USB cable from phone.
13. Use “Volume Down” button to scroll down to option “8. AD Recovery.”
14. Then press the “Call” button.
15. ClockworkMod Recovery will now start loading.

Whew! Congratulations, you’ve made it to the Final Phase! You should be very proud of yourself.

Now we’ll need to download the final piece of the puzzle – our ROM! If you want more in-depth information in regards to the ROM or it’s author, I invite you to check out it’s thread here:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1434860

• Download ROM: NexusHD2-ICS-CM9-HWA V2.8.zip – (Make sure you download V1.3)

There’s no need to extract it, as MADLDR will do that for us. Just place the .Zip file on your desktop for easy access, and follow these steps.

1. Copy the NexusHD2-ICS-CM9-HWA V2.8.zip file you just downloaded directly onto the SD card (use an SD card reader or MassStg in MAGLDR).
2. Power on your phone and don’t let go of the power button. Keep it pressed.
3. DFT MAGLDR Bootloader will be loaded. Once it’s loaded you may let go of the power button.
4. Use “Volume Down” button to scroll down to option “8. AD Recovery.”
5. Then press the “Call” button.
6. ClockworkMod Recovery will then be loaded.
7. Select the “Wipe data/Factory Reset” option. (You can skip this step if upgrading from same ROM)
8. Then select the “Yes — Delete All User Data” option.
9. Select the “Wipe Cache Partition” option. (You can skip this step if upgrade from same ROM)
10. Then select “Yes — Wipe Cache.”
11. Go to install zip from sdcard.
12. Then select “Choose zip from sdcard.”
13. Select your zip file (NexusHD2-ICS-CM9-HWA V2.8.zip).
14. Select “Yes – Install your zip file.”
15. Wait for installation – Be patient, it may take a while. DO NOT press buttons or power the phone during this step.
16. Once the installation has finished, press the “Power” button to go back.
17. Reboot your phone.
18. NexusHD2-ICS-CM9-HWA V2.8 will then be loaded.
19. Success!! You now have a working HTC HD2 running Android 4.0.3

And that’s if. If you run into any problems during your install, I highly recommend going over to http://forum.xda-developers.com/ for support. This guide is basically a puny, simple compilation compared to what you’ll find on there.