Jul
23
How To Hard-SPL A HTC Diamond
July 23, 2008 | 23 Comments
Introduction
The goal of this blog is to provide an all-in-one site that has the complete step by step instructions and all the files needed to flash a HTC Diamond with Hard-SPL and a ROM. Intended for newbies and those who needs additional motivation to do it, hence the use of signed Hard-SPL and ROM. In my case I will be doing an upgrade from my stock 1.37 ROM to a TLR v3 ROM (with integrated 1.93 ROM).
The Ingredients :-
Microsoft Windows Vista as the ActiveSync PC
Hard-SPL-Diamond-OliNex (Version 1.30, Signed)
TLR-Diamond-3.08.07.16 (TLR v3, Signed)
The following guide will be broken up into 3 parts :-
Calm Before The Storm
This chapter will refer to the components needed and also the backup of settings and programs that you wish to recover after the Hard-SPL and ROM upgrade. You can’t break anything here.
The Great Battle
This chapter is where the most important and risky instructions are given. Basically this is the “point of no return”.
Battle Scars
If you survived the battle, it will leave you with a prized scar. It will change your phone and you forever! 
*Note* – The steps given are referring to my own upgrade, so the program and backup list might differ from yours.
Calm Before The Storm
1. Get ready all required files beforehand. Hard-SPL, ROMs, Programs, Backups, etc.. Most files come in compressed forms, test them first.
2. Keep in mind that a power failure will definitely brick your phone, do not continue if you know that you are having power instability or problems at your area or house. Having internet connection during the upgrade is very useful in case you’ve forgotten some steps during the course of the upgrade.
3. Turn off your phone by using the “Airplane Mode” function and logoff IM to eliminate distractions.
4. Write down your program list for reinstallation after the upgrade.
- Garmin Mobile XT 4.20.30w
- Pocket TV
- CorePlayer
5. Prevent your phone from going into standby mode, make sure to uncheck the Power Setting “When device is turned on, do not charge the battery when connected to the PC.” and on “Advanced” tab, Check “Turn off device if not used for” set it to 30 min. In short, change them to the default settings.
6. Backing Up Settings and Programs
Backup Owner Information
Name : Your Name
Company : Your Company
Address :
Telephone : Your Contact
E-mail : Your Email
Device ID
Device name : HTC_Diamond ( Important if you need to sync back with your PC ! )
Description :
7. Collect ROM Info Before Hard-SPL ( For Warranty Purposes Too ! )
Soft Reset -
H (Bottom Left)
(Bottom Right)
R 1.0.25.03
G 52.26a.25.09
D 1.37.00.00
Enter Bootloader (Pressing Volume Down + Soft Reset)
(Red Zone)
DIAM100 64M
SPL-1.37.0000
MicroP-Diam (LED) v11
(Green Zone)
PSOC-Diam STAGE_PVT v0x30
The Great Battle
*Warning* – Instructions after this point might brick your phone, turning your phone into a brick or a door stopper! All steps need to be completed in its entirety. Do not skip any steps! Continue at your own risk!
1. It’s important to check that your PC do not sleep or hibernate during the upgrade.
2. Run ROMUpdateUtility.exe
3. Follow the instructions in the ROM Update Utility (RUU) carefully.
Toward the end it will confirm the version upgrade. Mine was showing the below :-
Detected Image Version : 1.37.707.1
From : Image Version : 1.37.707.1
To : Image Version : 1.30.OliNex
*NOTE* Doing this on Windows Vista for the first time will show the below error message, however, Vista will eventually manage to find the correct driver for this. I was almost scared half to death watching my phone fading to a black screen and the below error popped up at the same time! Now you know.. 
“ERROR [260] : CONNECTION”, basically my PC has lost connection with my phone.
Success during second attempt. The update process took less than 2 minutes.
Your Diamond will reset and it will configure your phone for first time of use. I’m not sure if you can actually skip this but I waited until everything was completed.
Your diamond will reset a second time, this time launching the TF3D. And I can’t find a way to skip the HTC video. Take note that I cancelled my phone function during all the prompt since the Hard-SPL.
Confirm your Hard-SPL version by going into the Bootloader, pressing
the Volume down and the soft reset button. Hold the Volume down button until you see the TriColor Screen. Mine is showing the below :-
(Red Zone)
DIAM100 MFG 64M
SPL-1.30.OliNex
MicroP-Diam (LED) v11
(Green Zone)
PSOC-Diam STAGE_PVT v0x30
Reset your phone, confirm the ActiveSync connection and move on to the next step.
4. Run ROMUpdateUtility.exe
5. Follow the instructions in the RUU carefully.
Toward the end it will confirm the version upgrade. Mine was showing the below :-
From : Image Version : 1.37.707.1
To : Image Version : 3.08.07.16
6. SUCCESS!! The update process took around 20 minutes.
7. As expected, your Diamond will run through the first time use procedures, identical to what happens after a Hard-SPL. However, it skipped the HTC video this time round. Cool!
Battle Scars
1. Soft reset after the upgrade gave me the below results :-
H (Bottom Left)
(Bottom Right)
R 1.00.25.05
G 52.29.25.12U
D 1.93.00.00
2. Restore Settings
Owner Information and Device ID
3. Restoring Garmin
Reinstalling Garmin is very easy since all of your files and settings are in your Internal Storage. To backup all of your personal settings (Home, My Locations, etc.. ), copy all .NVM files in your Main Garmin folder (not your internal storage).
4. Improvements/Differences After Upgrade
The phone feels much more responsive now and has a very stock look. I’ve also managed to solve a minor issue after upgrade. Details below :-
A) The Start Menu (Start -> Settings -> Menus) list could no be changed, giving the error “Cannot move that item” when I tried to edit it.
B) When I tried to add programs in TF3D, I see lots of duplicate entries like Calendars, Contacts, Excel Mobile, Help, etc etc..
The solution is to play with these 2 folders (This will solve both A and B) :-
/windows/startmenu [AND] /windows/startmenu/programs
Closing
Well, that’s basically it. Hopefully this will overcome your fear of bricking your phone or able to give you just enough motivation for you to enjoy the latest ROMs by doing it yourself. Believe me, it is a joy to be able to do all of the above on your own without depending on someone else who might not have a better idea than you do..
Below are other softwares that you might be interested in. I am not asking for donation here but please leave a comment if this site helped you in any way.
HTC Touch Diamond software downloads :-
CE Regedit
CorePlayer
FInixNOver Battery Indicator
Garmin Mobile XT 4.20.30w
Garmin Mobile XT 5.00.20w
HTC Touch Diamond 1.93 Stock ROM
HTC Touch Diamond 1.37 Stock ROM
MalsingMap 2.28
Pocket Putty
Pocket TV
TCPMP-0.72RC1-ARM-PPC
Thank you and enjoy your new ROM.
ChonHoe/arKCHane@LYN
Credits :-
LowYat.Net’s forum members especially davidmak and Baronic.
References :-
http://modmydiamond.info/index.php?option=…ntpage&Itemid=1
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/711698/+1080
Jul
19
Who You Want To Be In Your Next Life?
July 19, 2008 | 1 Comment
Recently there was an internal training program in my company catered for every new employees called HoRenSo, a Japanese corporate communication training program. Since I am at it why not I share some valuable knowledge with you?
Basically Horenso is the technique of communication that consist of the below 3 components :-
1. Ho (Hokoku) – Report
Hokoku deals with the general reporting to your superior on the task that was being assigned in a periodic and systematic manner.
2. Ren (Renraku) – Contact
Renraku refers to how we interact with our colleagues across departments or divisions to gather crucial information that are needed to complete the tasks in hand.
3. So (Sodan) – Consult
Sodan in terms refer to us as being proactive in reporting to our superior on new ideas or unexpected problems that might crop up from time to time during a course of a project or task.
As a result of implementing Horenso, timely reporting, effective communication and valueable consultation in the organization will help improve the overall performance of the company.
So what Horenso has got to do with my next life? Well, as a reward for being late to class after lunch, I was instructed by the trainer to give a short speech based on the topic “Who you want to be in your next life?”.
At that point of time, I was quite comfortable with other colleagues, so I was not surprised to hear suggestions such as “the next Bill Gates!” or “a superhero!”
Interestingly enough I took some time to think about it and I could not believe the answer that was coming from me! I actually truly wanted to be myself in my next life! Not any billionaire or superhero, just plain old me! Only at that moment that I knew that I am honestly enjoying my life.
With this new discovery I came up with a new theory :
Those who truly enjoys living will never trade their life with anyone because they know that no matter what happens, they will make the most out of them with full appreciation.
With that in mind ask yourself, am I living my life to the fullest or am I always dreaming of wanting another life?