HTC Dream: Rooting

This guide will walk you through the process of taking the HTC Dream (aka G1) from stock to having the ability to flash the latest version of CyanogenMod.

For other related guides please view the following:

• for the Rogers Dream, see the Rogers Dream instructions.

Contents 1 Before you do anything — Make a backup 2 Rooting the HTC Dream 2.1 Downgrading the Firmware 2.2 Rooting the HTC Dream 3 Installing a Custom Recovery Image 3.1 Amon_Ra's Recovery: Recommended 3.2 ClockworkMod Recovery 3.2.1 First Method (ROM Manager method) 3.2.2 Second Method (manual method) 4 Flashing Radio 4.1 Amon_Ra's Recovery process 4.2 ClockworkMod Recovery process 5 Flashing CyanogenMod 6 Troubleshooting 6.1 Issues Downgrading the Firmware 6.2 Issues Establishing a Data Connection 6.3 SD Card Formatting Issues 6.4 Recovery Flashing Issues

Before you do anything — Make a backup

Don't forget to back up your data. If you have synced the device with a Google account, then the contacts, calendar, Gmail, & select other Google-related data will not be lost and will come back after the next sync. However, you should backup anything you want to keep that is not stored on the SD card:

• SMS/MMS messages,
• Call Log,
• Bookmarks,
• Applications; use Titanium Backup or the Astro File Manager, for example,
• Any application data not on the SD card.

It would also be a good idea to backup everything stored on the SD card in the rare case the SD card must be formatted to resolve any major problems.

MyBackup Root, SMS Backup & Restore, and Call Backup & Restore are all free applications that can assist with backing up your data.

Rooting the HTC Dream

Downgrading the Firmware

If the HTC Dream has already been downgraded, skip down to Rooting.

1. Download the RC29 / RC7 DREAIMG.nbh file (Make sure it is named exactly DREAIMG.nbh):
   • RC29 (US): Download

     md5: 53840b90a0fe1bfab19fab8ef8fb9724

   • RC7 (Europe): Download

     md5: 2f02dd9a3b7c7f2fe058047b9c7a0245

2. Format the SD card to FAT32.
   • If the device is running Android 1.6+, you can format the SD card from the device settings: Settings » SD card & device storage » Unmount SD card » Format SD card.
   • You may need to use another device to get your computer to recognize the SD card (a microSD reader, camera, or mp3 player)
   • Windows: My Computer » right-click on SD card and select format.
   • Mac users: Use Disk Utility and click Erase and then select MS-DOS FAT
   • Linux: Use gparted and format as FAT32, or use disk utility and format as FAT

   NOTE: If you are experiencing SD Card issues, please see the Troubleshooting section below.

3. Copy the DREAIMG.nbh to the root of the SD card (NOT in any folders). Make sure the filename is DREAIMG.nbh exactly or it will not work.
4. Turn the device off and reboot holding the Camera button and the Power button until the device is in bootloader mode.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to flash the image.

   NOTE: If you are experiencing flashing issues, please see the Troubleshooting section below.

6. When it's done, press the trackball.
7. Press the Call button, Menu button & Power button all at the same time to reboot.

Rooting the HTC Dream

If the HTC Dream has already been rooted, skip down to Installing Recovery.

1. Finish booting up the HTC Dream & sign-in to a Google account.

   NOTE: If you are experiencing data connection issues, please see the Troubleshooting section below.

2. Once at the Home screen, open the keyboard and press the Enter key twice.
3. Type telnetd & press Enter. The Contacts screen will come up, just ignore it. There will be no indication that you did it right.
4. Open the Android Market, and install Telnet by ClockworkMod.

   Alternatively, you can install Telnet from the device's browser. First, go to Settings » Applications » and check Unknown Sources. Then, from the device's browser, go to http://koushikdutta.blurryfox.com/G1/Telnet.apk. Wait for the file to download, then tap on icon to install it.

5. Open Android Telnet Client; type localhost in the large text box and 23 in the smaller text box on the right. Press Enter.

   NOTE: If you get an error when trying to connect, reboot and repeat steps 2,3, and 5.</div>

Installing a Custom Recovery Image

There are two custom recovery images available for the Dream: Amon_Ra's and ClockworkMod. If you have already flashed a custom recovery image, skip down to Flashing Radio.

Amon_Ra's Recovery: Recommended

1. Download the latest version of Amon_Ra's Recovery:
   • Amon_Ra's Recovery 1.7.0: Download

     md5: 11ae63afee9813a9b76cb3f7fd5ac2ad

2. Rename Amon_Ra's Recovery Image to recovery.img.
3. Copy the recovery.img to the root of the SD card (NOT in any folders).
4. Disconnect the HTC Dream from the computer.
5. Open Android Telnet Client and type:

   flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery.img

6. Once Amon_Ra's Recovery is finished installing, you will see # # on the screen below the line you've just typed.

   NOTE: If you are experiencing flashing issues, please see the Troubleshooting section below.

7. Amon_Ra's Recovery should now be installed on the HTC Dream.

ClockworkMod Recovery

Flashing Radio

Please follow the instructions that correspond to your recovery image.

Amon_Ra's Recovery process

1. Download the latest radio:
   • 2.22.23.02 T-Mobile / US
   • 2.22.19.26i Non US
2. Place the radio update.zip file on the root of the device's SD card
3. Boot into Recovery by holding the Home and Power button while the device boots
4. Scroll down to Flash zip from sdcard
5. Select the radio update.zip

   The HTC Dream will reboot during this process

6. Once the installation has finished, select Reboot system

ClockworkMod Recovery process

1. Download the latest radio:
   • 2.22.23.02 T-Mobile / US
   • 2.22.19.26i Non US
2. Place the radio update.zip file on the root of your SD card.
3. Boot into Recovery by holding the Home and Power button while the device boots
4. Scroll down to Install zip from sdcard.
5. Select Choose zip from sdcard.
6. Select the radio update.zip.
7. Once the installation has finished, select Reboot system now.

Flashing CyanogenMod

At this point, you need to chose which version of CyanogenMod you want flash to your Dream:

Cyanogenmod 4	Cyanogenmod 5	Cyanogenmod 6
NO LONGER SUPPORTED Android 1.6 DangerSPL Not Required CyanogenMod 4.2 Install	Android 2.1 Requires DangerSPL CyanogenMod 5.0 Install	Android 2.2 Requires DangerSPL CyanogenMod 6.0 Install

Troubleshooting

Issues Downgrading the Firmware

If you having issues with the RC29/RC7 downgrade, reformat the card and re-download the DREAIMG.nbh and try again, or try a different SD card if you have one.

• Some European HTC Dreams won't take the RC7 and have to be goldcarded;
  • Follow the guide to create a goldcard; Windows or OS X/Linux.
• For Australian/Singapore HTC Dreams, use this guide if you're having issues with all the other rooting methods.

Issues Establishing a Data Connection

• Google Login via a WiFi Connection.
• Try to add your networks provider's APN:
  • Menu » APN Settings » Menu » Add APN. You will need 4 things:

    Name

    MCC (Mobile Country Code)

    MNC Mobile Network Code

    APN

  • All this info should be available here and on your network provider's site.
• If you're experiencing issues establishing a data connection (eg, using the browser), be sure the APN settings are correct.
  • In some cases, you can go to APN » Access Point Names » Menu button » Reset to default.

SD Card Formatting Issues

There are some issues with using Linux or Mac to format the SD card as vfat. If you are experiencing issues, try borrowing a Windows computer or a friends device.

Recovery Flashing Issues

• If you get a permission denied message, type su, press enter and repeat step 5.
• If you get a file not found message, you may need to remount the SD card or make sure you typed the filename correctly.
• If you get a flash_image: command not found see Flash image