Updating Windows Mobile 6 to Mobile 7 on an HTC HD2 Phone

Updating Windows Mobile 6 to Mobile 7 on an HTC HD2 Phone
Page content

Is It Possible to Upgrade from Windows Mobile?

Around ten Windows Phone 7 devices were launched with the platform back in October 2010, with LG, Samsung, HTC and DELL all joining Microsoft to provide handsets for early adopters.

When the platform was first announced, there were hints made unofficially by Microsoft personnel that no Windows Mobile device would be compatible with Windows Phone 7 Series (as it was then called), except the HTC HD2.

The reason for this was the minimum hardware specification for the new mobile platform (such as the 1 GHz Snapdragon processor) which the HTC HD2 surpassed.

After release of Windows Phone 7 in 2010, and the realization that there would be no upgrade path for HTC HD2 owners, several developers began work on porting the platform to the older handset (which shares various specifications with the HTC HD7).

(Image credit: https://www.htc.com/www/product/hd2/gallery.html)

How to Update Windows Mobile 6 to Windows Phone 7 on an HTC HD2

Initial attempts to port the operating system to the HTC HD2 resulted in problems with accessing the Marketplace and Xbox LIVE, however it seems that these issues are now a thing of the past.

Don’t come into this update procedure thinking that it is simple, however. Various software is required in addition to the device to enable it to boot the Windows Phone 7 ROM.

What you will need to for this process:

  • A Windows computer with ActiveSync or Windows Mobile Device Center.
  • An HTC HD2 phone.
  • MAGLDR 1.13 (which in itself also requires that you install HardSPL 2.08 and 2.15.50.14 Radio update).
  • Windows Phone 7 ROM for HTC HD2 (find the links in the References section).

Preparing Your HTC HD2 Hard SPL

The first thing to do is to get hold of the HSPL4 file and save it to your computer. Run the application, and note the warning. Next, switch off your HTC HD2.

Holding the volume-down button, press and hold the power button to switch on your handset, keeping the buttons pressed until you see a distinctive four colour striped screen, and then release the buttons.

Read the display, looking for one of the following:

  • SPL 1.42.0000
  • SPL 1.62.0000
  • SPL 1.66.0000
  • SPL 2.07.0000
  • SPL 2.08.0000
  • SPL 2.10.0000
  • SPL 3.03.0000

If none of the above is listed, you probably have a custom Windows Mobile 6.x ROM installed, and will need to install the original ROM for your device.

On your PC, click next in the HSPL4 window, and connect your HTC HD2 phone to your PC via USB. When the phone is recognised, you will be given a drop-down menu to select which HSPL to choose. Select 2.08.HSPL and then click Next.

Keep your phone connected while this process completes. Confirm success afterwards by switching off your phone and repeating the volume and power button combination above to find the text SPL-2.08.HSPL and CotullaHSPL on the striped screen.

Installing 2.15.50.14 Radio

By upgrading from Windows Mobile to Windows Phone 7, you get a better mobile OS

Installing the 2.15.50.14 Radio is easier. Begin by downloading the software from the link above, and extracting it to a folder on your PC.

Next, disconnect the USB cable and switch off your phone and once again hold the volume-down button, while pressing and holding the power button, keeping the buttons pressed until a distinctive four colour striped screen appears.

Reconnect the USB, open the folder that you extracted the downloaded files into and run CustomRUU. Leave the phone connected as you follow the steps that the software displays to update your HTC HD2 radio. The phone will reboot when the process is complete!

(Image credit: author)

Installing MAGLDR 1.13

With the radio and HSPL updated, the final step is to prepare your phone with MAGLDR 1.13, which you should have downloaded. Make sure you have extracted the file contents. This tool will enable you to boot the Windows Phone 7 ROM on your HTC HD2.

Confirm your phone is not connected to your Windows PC with the USB cable, and switch it off. Repeat the volume down/power button holding combo to boot into the striped bootloader screen, releasing them when this appears.

Reconnect your phone, and on your PC browse to the directory where MAGLDR 1.13 was extracted. Run ROMUpdateUtility, confirming that you understand the warnings. Click Next, then Update to install the MAGLDR on your HTC HD2. Leave your phone connected while the update process completes.

In order to take advantage of MAGLDR, switch off the phone and then hold down the power button. The MAGLDR screen can be navigated using the volume up and volume down buttons, and menu options selected using the call button.

With MAGLDR, the radio update and HardSPL installed, you’re finally ready to install Windows Phone 7 on your HTC HD2!

Install Windows Phone 7 on HTC HD2

Get started by downloading the ROM to your PC. This will take a short while if you haven’t downloaded it already. Once complete, extract the files to a folder on your PC.

Next, with your phone disconnected from your PC, switch it off and then hold the power button to boot into MAGLDR. Select USB Flasher, and connect your phone to the USB cable.

Back on your PC, run DWI.exe, taking care to follow the instructions that are displayed. This is the crucial part, and success here will see your HTC HD2 reboot into Windows Phone 7!

You might also be interested to know that this veritable “super phone” is also able to run Android Gingerbread!

References

Downloads: