Unbranding Bell HTC Desire Z

**shubjero** · 11-08-2010, 07:09 AM

Hey all,

Last night I experimented with my phone and with the help of a friend we were able to unbrand the Bell HTC Desire Z.

This removes Ashphalt, Golf, Uno, Bell PVR, GPS Navigator, Kobo, Zoompass, Tunes & Apps, TV & Radio are all gone. The unbranding also brings back the much wanted HTC Locations and Car Panel.

The thread with the instructions can be found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?p=9086923

Enjoy!

**CorSter** · 11-08-2010, 07:45 AM

Does this Void Warranty?

I'd probably do it just to get HTC Locations.

**sickens** · 11-08-2010, 05:32 PM

Void warranty? Nah, just flash it back to a Bell ROM if you want to send it in for service.

I've just got my phone all setup, I'm not sure if I want to debrand to get rid of the pre-loaded crap, or wait for a proper root to flash something non-HTC sense'ified.

**TorontoTech** · 11-12-2010, 11:54 AM

Is there any way of just getting rid of Bell PVR, GPS Navigator, Tunes & Apps, and TV & Radio... And then adding Car Panel and HTC Locations? Or is reflashing with a new ROM the only way right now?

**a in yul** · 11-12-2010, 12:55 PM

^things could have changed since my TP2 flashing days but i think that the only way to get a clean ROM is to reflash completely from scratch; ie deinstalling 1 by 1 will not be as effective since u will always have remnants of the old programme in memory.

**TorontoTech** · 11-12-2010, 01:22 PM

That makes sense. The games that came with the phone are cute, so I'd rather keep them... I'll keep looking for APK files for Locations and Car Panel...

**Boosh63** · 12-06-2010, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by sickens

Void warranty? Nah, just flash it back to a Bell ROM if you want to send it in for service.

I've just got my phone all setup, I'm not sure if I want to debrand to get rid of the pre-loaded crap, or wait for a proper root to flash something non-HTC sense'ified.

How is this done? The "flashing it back part"? I debranded mine ok but now it needs to go back for service. Thanks in advance!

**mickliq** · 12-10-2010, 11:39 AM

Well I've had my Desire Z for two days. It's not my first Android device - I also have a Desire, so I'm quite familiar with Android (Froyo in this case), rooting, flashing, etc.

The DZ was *definitely* much more of a challenge to get it working the way I wanted it to (basically the same as the Desire, which required a lot less hacking) - but it's done now.

This is a Bell DZ, I bought it unlocked, so no headache there. Next step root - an adventure. Not only do you need to temproot/permroot it, you also need to S-off it, to get clockwork on there. I've had a bit of experience with ADB so finally got the s-off done which opens flashing of other ROMs...

For now I've installed the Modaco Custom Rom. It's very stable and removes all the Bell crap but keeps the Sense UI (which I like).

Next big problem is that for some reason this build of Froyo doesn't play nice with my Exchange Server via the built in HTC Exchange Activesync. Basically it receives emails but can't send them, and the contacts don't sync properly. It appears this is a "known issue" with Exchange 2010 Servers which have a "higher" security level, and the DZ isn't receiving all the certs to communicate properly. Anyway, my Desire running Froyo doesn't have this problem with the SAME Exchange Server, but as we know, this is a new build...very annoying.

Workarounds for the email problem are (a) use Roadsync - paid (b) Use Touchdown - paid (c) find the "Email.apk" app. I tried all three (naturally in that order). I wasn't happy paying for something that should just work out of the box, and I also prefer the full integration into Android that the "standard" email app uses. Anyway, Email.apk is, I guess, another version of HTC email, and it works perfectly - it has specific settings to "accept all certs" which I guess is the key.

Finally, another annoyance, I prefer the "circle battery with %". There are plenty of ROMs for the Desire that have this, but I had to dig awhile to find a "framework" for the Desire HD/G2/DZ that installed the circle battery.

After 2 days, I'm rooted, debranded and functional. Ouff.

I hope it's worth the physical keyboard (which is the only thing I was after in the first place!!!)

I should say I also have an iPhone 4 (from work) and it's ridiculous how much effort I have to put in to Androids to get them to work the way they should! Of course it's more hackable, but if the iPhone 4 had a keyboard, not sure I'd bother!!!

**mickliq** · 12-10-2010, 01:29 PM

btw there's a good thread over at XDA on the Exchange Server 2010 issue http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...=832931&page=3

**shubjero** · 12-11-2010, 03:54 PM

Sounds like the problem is with the Modaco Custom Rom you chose to run. I flashed the euro stock ROM to de-brand my Bell D-Z as well as installed the 1.4Ghz overclock kernel which is freaking amazing.

Rooting the phone is dead simple thanks to visionary, and s-off was also simple as its like 3-4 commands that are run from an adb shell. Rooting and unlocking this phone was easier than the method I used back in the day to root the Nexus One.

Hope you can sort out the exchange problems, I dont use exchange personally so I can't help you out on that aspect.

Enjoy the freedom of android!

Originally Posted by mickliq

Well I've had my Desire Z for two days. It's not my first Android device - I also have a Desire, so I'm quite familiar with Android (Froyo in this case), rooting, flashing, etc.

The DZ was *definitely* much more of a challenge to get it working the way I wanted it to (basically the same as the Desire, which required a lot less hacking) - but it's done now.

This is a Bell DZ, I bought it unlocked, so no headache there. Next step root - an adventure. Not only do you need to temproot/permroot it, you also need to S-off it, to get clockwork on there. I've had a bit of experience with ADB so finally got the s-off done which opens flashing of other ROMs...

For now I've installed the Modaco Custom Rom. It's very stable and removes all the Bell crap but keeps the Sense UI (which I like).

Next big problem is that for some reason this build of Froyo doesn't play nice with my Exchange Server via the built in HTC Exchange Activesync. Basically it receives emails but can't send them, and the contacts don't sync properly. It appears this is a "known issue" with Exchange 2010 Servers which have a "higher" security level, and the DZ isn't receiving all the certs to communicate properly. Anyway, my Desire running Froyo doesn't have this problem with the SAME Exchange Server, but as we know, this is a new build...very annoying.

Workarounds for the email problem are (a) use Roadsync - paid (b) Use Touchdown - paid (c) find the "Email.apk" app. I tried all three (naturally in that order). I wasn't happy paying for something that should just work out of the box, and I also prefer the full integration into Android that the "standard" email app uses. Anyway, Email.apk is, I guess, another version of HTC email, and it works perfectly - it has specific settings to "accept all certs" which I guess is the key.

Finally, another annoyance, I prefer the "circle battery with %". There are plenty of ROMs for the Desire that have this, but I had to dig awhile to find a "framework" for the Desire HD/G2/DZ that installed the circle battery.

After 2 days, I'm rooted, debranded and functional. Ouff.

I hope it's worth the physical keyboard (which is the only thing I was after in the first place!!!)

I should say I also have an iPhone 4 (from work) and it's ridiculous how much effort I have to put in to Androids to get them to work the way they should! Of course it's more hackable, but if the iPhone 4 had a keyboard, not sure I'd bother!!!

**mickliq** · 12-12-2010, 01:25 PM

The temproot then permroot then S-off is certainly a lot more effort than running 1-click unrevoked! Never mind all the effort to research the answers!

**teride** · 12-13-2010, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by mickliq

I should say I also have an iPhone 4 (from work) and it's ridiculous how much effort I have to put in to Androids to get them to work the way they should! Of course it's more hackable, but if the iPhone 4 had a keyboard, not sure I'd bother!!!

Me too!! Setting up the Android reminds me of my old Mobile Windows days....the iPhone is definitely easier. I guess I need to give the new device some "use" time to really see if I'll keep.

**LickTheEnvelope** · 12-14-2010, 07:57 PM

Are we talking about the ease of jailbreaking an Iphone 4 versus rooting an android device?

**Drillbit** · 12-14-2010, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by shubjero

Hey all,

Last night I experimented with my phone and with the help of a friend we were able to unbrand the Bell HTC Desire Z.

This removes Ashphalt, Golf, Uno, Bell PVR, GPS Navigator, Kobo, Zoompass, Tunes & Apps, TV & Radio are all gone. The unbranding also brings back the much wanted HTC Locations and Car Panel.

The thread with the instructions can be found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?p=9086923

Enjoy!

Turns out the Desire Z I bought here on island has all the same crap mentioned above. That confirms its a Bell branded piece, even though there is absolutely nothing in the box or the phone that says it.

**Schnitz** · 12-22-2010, 05:38 PM

Remember, this phone hasn't even been out a month yet. Give it some time and there will be one click debranding/ROM reflash much like the Windows 6 phones (HTC Touch).