Rogers Dream: Rooting (Pre-911 Guide)
This guide will walk you through the process of taking the Rogers Dream from stock to having the ability to flash the latest version of CyanogenMod. This guide will also upgrade the radio to the latest version distributed by the Rogers Mandatory Update. This should allow the device to be recognized on Rogers networks as having had the update applied.
Warning: This approach keeps the device on an EBI1 radio. This means you have to be very discerning in what images you choose to install as most of the HTC Dream system images and recovery images will not work on the device!
Warning #2: Using this will prevent you from upgrading to the latest CyanogenMod at the time of release. You have to wait for an EBI1 kernel to be released for it before you can use it (typically a few hours, but in extreme circumstances, it may be days). This also means you cannot use the CM-Updater from the market without adding a server for the EBI1 kernel.
Warning #3: Please do not follow this guide if you have already replaced your radio with an EBI0 radio (as in haykuro's original guide). See Upgrade Rogers Dream Radio.
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Why not convert to a EBI0 Radio?
Why go down this road instead of using the root methods that install an EBI0 G1/Dream radio (basically converting your EBI1 device to a G1)?
Possible reasons to keep the native radio on the Rogers Dream (debunk if you will, as there is a lot of misinformation out there):
- The Rogers Dream has more memory than the G1 and using an EBI1 radio allows full access to that (definitely unconfirmed)
- Using EBI1 radio on an EBI1 device reduces potential for radio-related bugginess (seems believable)
- Should you decide to turn back and reinstall your stock Rogers system for whatever reason, this simplifies the process.
- Rogers Edge speeds are better on the 32B/EBI1 kernel (according to anonymous on the discussion page)
- On 22 January 2010, Rogers sent out a text message to Dream and Magic owners saying that you must install the latest software update or they will be disabling data services on 24 January 2010. Read more about it at: http://www.litui.net/archives/796. The radio version may be involved in Rogers' checking mechanic.
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.
Prerequisites
- Rogers Dream EBI1 running Rogers' stock pre911 updated 1.5 system.
- A computer with Windows, Linux or Mac and a USB cable to connect the device to it.
- NOTE: Orange France users with an EBI1 1.86.* Stock firmware will also work with this process. (Please just pretend you have the Rogers Dream for this and future guides)
Installing a Custom Recovery Image
- Download the Amon_Ra's Recovery & Zinc's Recovery Flasher:
- Rename Amon_Ra's Recovery Image to simply recovery.img.
- Place the flashrec & Amon_Ra's Recovery Image to the root of the SD card (NOT into any folders on the SD card).
- Toggle on installation of apps from unknown sources (Settings » Applications).
- Launch flashrec.
- In the box type
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sdcard/recovery.img
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- Press the backup image. If that fails, tap to the right of backup button, an asterisk will appear and the flash button will be available. Flash the recovery image.
- If it takes a long time, it may have failed. Don't worry. Try again after restarting the app or rebooting the device.
- When the image is finished, shut down the device and, while holding the Home key, power it on again. Keep holding Home until you see the Amon_Ra's Recovery Image screen.
At this point if the Rogers Dream is hung at the Rogers logo, something has gone wrong. Don't worry, the device is not bricked. Pull the battery and turn the device on again and repeat from step 5. If it still doesn't work, double check again to make sure the device is running Android 1.5. The Recovery Flasher utility will only work if the device is on a version of Android that Rogers/HTC hasn't yet fixed.
If you are at the recovery screen, move on to the next step.
Flashing Radio
- You will need the fastboot shell on the computer to use the flash a radio.img. Follow the Android SDK guide, to get the ADB and fastboot shell on the computer.
- Download the latest version of the radio (3.22.26.17).
- Rename the radio image to simply radio.img.
- Power off the Rogers Dream.
- Boot into bootloader mode. Hold the Camera button while powering on the Rogers Dream.
- Connect the Rogers Dream to the computer.
- On the computer, open the command prompt/terminal & navigate to the Android SDK Tools folder.
- Type in the following command:
-
fastboot flash radio radio.img
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- Once finished, you can restart the Rogers Dream.
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 |
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* Note: 1.33.2005 SPL is also known as DangerSPL; However as this SPL has the same partition layout as 1.33.0010 (stock Rogers SPL) and is compatible with the same radio (3.x) the risk to T-Mobile G1 users doesn't apply to rogers users. Therefore it's highly recommended that all rooted Rogers dreams install 1.33.2005 as its the only known working engineering SPL for the EBI1 Dream and will make it significantly easier to correct any issues moving forward.
APN Settings
CyanogenMod comes with automatic settings and they may work fine for you but if you are have mobile data related problems you can try these alternate settings. To add/edit APN settings: Go to Settings » Wireless controls » Mobile networks » Access Point Names.
Add or edit the following information:
- Name: Rogers
- APN: internet.com
- Username: wapuser1
- Password: wap
- MCC: 302
- MNC: 72 (or try 720 with newer SIM cards)
And for Multimedia Messaging, a new APN will need to be created with the following parameters:
- Name: Rogers MMS
- APN: media.com
- Username: media
- Password: mda01
- Server: 172.25.0.107
- MMSC: http://mms.gprs.rogers.com
- APN type: mms
- MMS Proxy: 10.128.1.69
- MMS Port: 80
BE CAREFUL: Some tips
- Avoid themes, enhancements, add-ons or anything else that writes to the kernel. Be very sure before installing a theme that it is EBI1-friendly.
- Be very careful of any upgrade or mod instructions that require you to install an HTC "Recovery" zip/image, a replacement radio, or anything that might cause a difference of versions thereby bricking the device.
- eg: you currently have an EBI1 system and recovery image. If you flash an EBI0 radio image you will no longer be able to boot the device. In this situation it is fixable if you know how but there are other situations that are not.
