How To: Root Your G1 And Install Android 1.5 Cupcake

996 days ago by 72

First off, I take no credit for this guide, this is straight from the xda-developers forums, which is an excellent place to learn about HTC phone hacking. So let’s get started. Make sure you backup anything important on your phone as this will erase everything. There are several apps in the Market that will backup apps, SMS, and other data for you. So don’t complain if you’ve lost your data. Your contacts and email should still synch with Google once you reinstall the new OS.

If you have US-RC30/UK-RC8 or higher, you will first need to downgrade your phone to a previous version. (Skip these steps otherwise)

  1. Format your phone’s SD card to FAT32 mode:
    • Hook your phone up to your computer using a USB cable and then wait for the notification to show up in your title bar of your phone.
    • Click the notification, and then click “Mount”.
    • A new removable disk should show up on your computer. Right click it and select Format, and select FAT32 as the file system type.
  2. Download and unzip the RC29 or RC7 image file. Copy the DREAMIMG.nbh file to the SD card. (RC29 for US, RC7 is for UK)
  3. Turn the device power off.
  4. Hold Camera button, and press Power button to entry bootloader mode. You should see a gray/white screen with instructions to flash your phone with the update on your SD card. If you don’t see that, make sure you followed the instructions properly.
  5. As per the on-screen instructions, press the Power button to start upgrade procedure. DO NOT DO ANYTHING TO INTERRUPT THIS PROCESS.
  6. After it is finished, perform the restart your phone.

Once you are running RC29 firmware:

  1. Download recovery.img and copy it to your SD card (see the previous instructions on how to copy from your computer to your Phone’s SD card).
  2. Download the Hard SPL and copy the zip file to the SD card.
  3. All files must be on the root of your SD card.
  4. Restart your phone. Wait for your phone to start up fully and show the home screen.
  5. After your phone starts up, hit the enter key twice, type “telnetd” and press enter. (Yes, it will start up a contact search, don’t worry. Just type it.)
  6. Download an Android “Telnet” application from the Market and connect to localhost.
  7. If you connect successfully, you will have a root prompt “#”.
  8. Type the following into Telnet (these commands will give you root access easier in the future):
    • mount -o rw,remount -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
    • cd sdcard
    • flash_image recovery recovery.img
    • cat recovery.img > /system/recovery.img

Now you have root!
Now that you have root, you will want to apply “Hard SPL” to your phone. HardSPL is what will allow you to apply flash images from other regions (like UK on US phones, and vice versa), create full backups of your phone, install the latest build from the Android source, and usually resurrect your phone if it is “bricked”. You have already downloaded the file to your SD card, so now you can apply it.

  1. Power off your phone.
  2. Start up in recovery mode by holding home and pressing power.
  3. You will now enter recovery mode. You should see an exclamation.
  4. If you do not see a menu on screen, press Alt-L to show the menu.
  5. Press Alt-S to apply the update from the SD card.
  6. After the update is complete, hold Home and press Back to restart.

And now, the last step! You are still running an old version of Android, but you want to upgrade to the latest and greatest update! You can do this, and not lose root by downloading modified versions of the updates.

Download one of the latest ROMs to install, I recommend JF1.5:

JesusFreke 1,51

Haykuro Builds

The Dude’s Cupcake 1.2 Full
The Dude’s Cupcake 1.1a Lite (No 3rdparty/dev apps/Manup Blue Theme)

You will also want to apply the latest radio update from HTC. Install the same way as the system image:

HTC Downloads Page

To install the latest build (instructions from Haykuro):

1. Gain root (follow the various threads available on the forums to accomplish this).
2. Download the latest build above.
3. Copy to your sdcard as update.zip
4. Power off your phone.
5. Hold the Home button, and power on the device. (This should send you into recovery mode).
6. Press ALT+B to create a nandroid backup (if you wish to fall back without losing any data later, if you do go back to RC33 [or any other firmware 1.0 update] you will need to reflash your radio, users have reported problems using the new radio on the old firmwares.)
7. Press ALT+W, then ALT+S.
8. wait for it to finish, then home+back.

There you have it. I hope I gave proper credit and backlinks to the awesome people that make this possible. Now you can brag about your new Cupcake and also do all the cool stuff with root, like install full Linux distros, tether your phone, and install apps on the SD card.

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Ben is the owner/editor of The Android Site, as well as the main writer. He has been writing about Android related news since 2009 and obsessed with everything Google and Android related. You can find him on Reddit, Twitter and most other websites under the username benmarvin

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  • http://www.pinstack.com Gary

    Very nice write up and quite clear! I would like permission to post this on another board(with full credits of course!). Please drop me an email.

    Thanks
    Gary

    • http://www.theandroidsite.com Ben Marvin

      Yes, rename the radio update.zip and apply it in recovery mode, alt-s.

  • Eric

    when i go to the htc downloads page, which image do i download? it says radio image, system image, and radio image do i get all three? thx

  • http://www.theandroidsite.com Ben Marvin

    You just need the 1.5 radio image. The system image you will be using is either The Dude’s, JesusFreke or Haykuro’s.

  • Eric

    thanks ben!

  • Eric

    Installation went great, everything works great except one thing…no myfaves or i.m. buttons. I cant seem to access them. Any suggestions?

  • http://www.theandroidsite.com Ben Marvin

    Eric :

    Installation went great, everything works great except one thing…no myfaves or i.m. buttons. I cant seem to access them. Any suggestions?

    Sadly these are not included in any of the system images yet. The MyFaves is a TMobile program so we’ll have to wait for a TMO sourced image to be hacked. Also only Google Talk is included in the international versions of Android. The multi-IM client is a TMO thing again.
    There should be a JF1.5 TMO version in the coming weeks.

  • Eric

    Thanks again Ben. I’ve suscribed to this feed. You must be up at all hours of the night I didnt expect an answer right away. The instructions are great btw and I reccommend this page to everyone that asks me how I hacked the g1.VERY helpful!!!

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  • benny

    right now im in indonesia. n the tmobile g1 (US Vers) already unlocked. but they the market apps no to complete.
    so i intend to upgrade the system.
    the thing i want to ask. can i upgrade it from indonesia ?
    coz theres a site said it only working 4 the us n uk region ?

    tq b4

  • http://NA KYLE TUBBS

    ok i updates with jf 1.5 and it works great but i have ONE Prob.

    every time i send a SMS or MSS i get this

    (The Application Messaging)
    (process com.android.mms)
    (has stopped unexpectedly)
    (please try again)
    (force close)

    please some one help or knows an e-mail i can send to jf so he can help me.

    or how to uninstall everything and go back to the t-mobile way so i can wate for it ?

    please help

    cant send text..!!!!!

  • http://TheAndroidSite Chris

    Ok, I rooted and have done all the steps. Have Hard SPL completed. I downloaded JF1.5 and placed it on SD Card as update.zip. Started up using Home+Power. Update meter went all the way across. Phone restarted. T-mobile G1 comes up, then android logo which illuminates across the word. It does not go past this. Seems to just keep highlighting this word. Can someone tell me what is going on or can help me. Thanks, Chris

  • Eric

    Ok Chris try reflashing and starting over. I had the same problem so I started over and waited a LONG time for the “android” logo to load. Just try it again and wait at least 10 min for everything to load.Thats what I did. Take note that jesusfreke’s hack doesnt have I.M. or Myfaves as these belong to TMobile and the source image appearanly has not been hacked yet.
    As for you Kyle, look up a how to restore g1 to factory guide online there are plenty out there I’ll post a link if I find one. Otherwise, try redoing everything again and strenuously pay attention to detail in the guide.
    This guide worked great for me thanks to Ben and I can assure you that it does work.I am currently on the web by way of Tether. If any one does manage to hack their g1 and wants to know how to tether,heres the link to the site I used:
    http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=474470

    Good Luck! -Eric

  • Xero

    Yeah, i’m having the same problem as chris. gonna give it a few more min then try reflashing JF1.5….i reaaallllllllyyy hope this works >_<

    oh well, you know what they say…

    while(! (succeed = try()));

  • Xero

    *growl*

    stupidity strikes again.

    i forgot to wipe >_< (lmfao)

  • jorge barraza

    Excuse the ignorance,but what are the benefits to do this rooting thing? It sounds so exciting and I want to do it,will I be better off without t mobile?thanks for your time .is there a way a person can make donations to you?

  • KirAsh4

    So I loaded JF1.5 on my phone ( following this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC-T1Yf4m4s )

    Everything *seemed* to have gone fine. I was able to downgrade the stock OS, gain root access, and follow it all the way through and get JF1.5 ADP1 up and running. Phone works, apps work, don’t see anything wrong … except, I don’t have root access. During the whole process I did, but once Cupcake was installed, I no longer have root. Launching the ‘Superuser Permissions’ App just sits there and eventually it times out (and requests a Force Close). Typing ‘su’ in terminal also does the same thing. Typing ‘telnetd’ does not get it started as I don’t see it in the process list, nor can I connect.

    So somewhere, something went awry. So before I redo the whole thing again, I thought I’d ask if there is something I missed, or something I can do right now to gain root again, or do I have to start from scratch again (downgrade to RC29, gain root, etc., etc.)

  • http://www.theandroidsite.com Ben Marvin

    jorge barraza :

    Excuse the ignorance,but what are the benefits to do this rooting thing? It sounds so exciting and I want to do it,will I be better off without t mobile?thanks for your time .is there a way a person can make donations to you?

    With root access you can install custom ROMS with features not available in normal releases. Install full OSs (such as Ubuntu) on top of Android. Use applications such as Screenshot and tethering apps that require root. Install applications on the SD card to save memory. And you have more overall control of your phone.
    If you want to make a donation you can paypal me: benmarvin [at] gmail.

  • http://www.theandroidsite.com Ben Marvin

    KirAsh4 :

    So I loaded JF1.5 on my phone ( following this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC-T1Yf4m4s )

    Everything *seemed* to have gone fine. I was able to downgrade the stock OS, gain root access, and follow it all the way through and get JF1.5 ADP1 up and running. Phone works, apps work, don’t see anything wrong … except, I don’t have root access. During the whole process I did, but once Cupcake was installed, I no longer have root. Launching the ‘Superuser Permissions’ App just sits there and eventually it times out (and requests a Force Close). Typing ’su’ in terminal also does the same thing. Typing ‘telnetd’ does not get it started as I don’t see it in the process list, nor can I connect.

    So somewhere, something went awry. So before I redo the whole thing again, I thought I’d ask if there is something I missed, or something I can do right now to gain root again, or do I have to start from scratch again (downgrade to RC29, gain root, etc., etc.)

    First thing that comes to mind is did you do a wipe (Alt+W) right before installing the JF1.5ADP image? That’s one thing that I forgot the first time around.

  • KirAsh4

    Ben Marvin :
    First thing that comes to mind is did you do a wipe (Alt+W) right before installing the JF1.5ADP image? That’s one thing that I forgot the first time around.

    Yes, I remember doing a wipe during the install. I remember that sticking out and telling myself that’s a “must do” item on the list.

    Would it hurt if I just start all the way from scratch again? Which would mean downgrading to RC29 again, gain root, etc., etc. … Or is there a particular step in between there I can start from?

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  • moldy

    @KirAsh4

    Make sure you have USB Debugging enabled in the developer settings on your phone. With it disabled I had the same problem.

  • http://no zvika

    when tipe the line ◦cat recovery.img > /system/recovery.img. at the telnet, i have an error : connot create /system/recovery.img: read-only file system.

    please help

  • dre

    What does telnet do and why cant i get past this step… when i type telnet to the screen nothing happens..

  • http://www.theandroidsite.com Ben Marvin

    @dre
    You have to download a Telnet application from the Market to enter the commands into.

  • http://www.accessibledesign.net Caroline

    For step 7 in teh last section don’t you mean Press ALT+L, then ALT+S and not 7. Press ALT+W, then ALT+S. ALT-W just does a hard boot & wipe for me

  • john r

    I’m kind of a newbie. What do you mean when you say, “Install the same way as the system image” for the radio update? Are you telling us to rename it update and such?

  • Mimi

    Wow this is great! I’m too scared to do it and mess up my phone : ( I kno the tmo dash has it installed already.

  • Grover F Mayo

    How do i put a Rom on my g1, i have completed the steps to rooting my g1 on rc29 and would like to update to cupcake

    thanks in advance

  • Grover F Mayo

    ive followed the directions but after i whipe and install im still ending up with rc29 please help..!! goin crazy lol

  • Grover F Mayo

    do i have to delete the rc29 file from my sd card?

  • http://non Terary C.

    Hey, I just bought my G1 and already want to to hack it. I think I will take your instructions. However, I looked on the market and all the had for back-up is pay-for apps (yes I am a cheap-skate). But I have almost nothing new on my phone (its 5 hours old). Will the data on the simm card survive? Also, just so that I am not a complete dope can you recommend a site that will explain the simple things like zip, etc? Thank you in advance

  • Jake

    hello the processing is going well I have rooted my g1 but now i want to update it to the new cupcake update i downloaded the radio image and copied to my sd card and says (cant open/sdcard/update,zip
    (no such file or directory installation aboted i also copied the jf 1.5 and that didnt install either can i get sum help plz!!! thank you

    • http://www.theandroidsite.com Ben Marvin

      One of the most common issues is the file must be named exactly “update.zip” without quotes. It may just be a typo, but in you comment it looks like a comma instead of a period. Also on some systems, the file extensions are hidden, so it actually gets renamed to “update.zip.zip”

  • jake

    ya when i save it. I save it as update.zip but then wen i copy it to my sd card and wen its loading is says coping “update.zip.zip” what should i do thanks for the help i want to install this last thing then my phone will be done rooting thank u.

    • http://www.theandroidsite.com Ben Marvin

      Then just rename it “update” and it will retain the .zip extension, that should do the trick.

  • jake

    Ben thank you so much it worked!!!!

  • http://www.thatbusinesstrainer.co.uk Brian

    I hope someone can help me. I am NOT a developer, but I have a developer phone. Looking for simple, easy to follow instructions to update my phone to cupcake (I have seen some online, but again, I am NOT a developer, so when it says “type xxx into command line” I don;t know how to GET to a command line! Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

  • Lucas

    How reliable ares these “Customs” roms?

  • http://Gvegerano@gmail.com george

    I downloade bluex for file transfer ,it works cool but when i try to recieve a file it says I have be to rooted ,what the %^$##$^^& they mean by rooted please some one help me I can receive nothing by bluetooth ,I can send but I cant receive

  • http://Gvegerano@gmail.com george

    how can I root my phone after the upgrade cause you see Ive downloaded the blux app to transfer files and receive files by bluetooth but….I can send but I cant receive please somebody help me

  • http://Gvegerano@gmail.com george

    HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP!

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  • Emil

    Hi!
    Does any one knows if this works on the G2 (HTC Magic)?
    or if it will be soon?

  • Yogonzalez

    HELP BEN!

    I downloaded the root application, i followed the steps and once i got to the red, green, blue screen to begin the update the phone brick to this screen with the following on the screen

    DREA PVT 32B RUUNBH
    HBOOT-0.95.0000
    CPLD-4
    RADIO- 1.22.12.29
    SEP 2 2008

    I TRIED IT ON A SECOND G1 AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM

    THE SCREEN HAD

    DREA PVT 32B RUUNBH
    HBOOT-0.95.0000
    CPLD-4
    RADIO-2.22.19.26I
    SEP 2 2008

    BOTH WITH SERIA10

    WHAT CAN I DO?? ARE THE PHONES ANY GOOD!??!

  • will

    i have done everything, rooted and all that but i cant put the new update (cupcake) on my phone, it just come up with failed because it doesnt exist and i know it does, please help me, maybe send me the exact file to put on my g1 that i then only have to go on the recovery page and then install

    i also dont understand what to do with the radio thing i downloaded

  • kamil

    when I try to install the hard spl my phone tell me that the file cannot be found.. what should it do??

  • AUSTYN

    YOU MUST HAVE THE SD DISK FORMATTED IN FAT32 MODE. I AM 16 AND FOUND THIS EASY!!! JUST DO IT WITH CONFIDENCE AND IT HAS TO BE IN FAT 32.

  • AUSTYN

    @Yogonzalez
    YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT IN FAT32 MODE. THE SD CARD HAS TO BE IN FAT32 MODE.
    THAT IS THE ONLY WAY IT WILL WORK. HOPE THIS HELPS

  • luis

    i waNT TO KNOW how do i know if it worked the root?

  • Ron

    hey there, thank you for this post.
    everything went great, however i didnt applied the radio update from HTC site as you said.

    can you please provide in detail how do i go a about doing that ?

    thanks in advance

  • jerzy

    doesnt work for me im downgraded went thru the whole process step by step but when i go to reboot into recovery mode to apply the hard spl my phone just stays at the tmobile g1 screen

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