Mike Southby

If you are using your iPhone with Exchange 2007 you’ll notice that Exchange now forces a remote policy which requires you to have a passcode on your device (of course this also applies to other mobile devices and not just the iPhone).  I’m sure for some this is not an issue but for those users who do not need this security feature enabled and/or simply do not want to have to enter a passcode every time, there is of course a way to disable the feature.

Firstly, you’ll need to have administrative rights to the Exchange 2007 server, so if you do and you’re able to either access the box locally or remotely via RDP, read on.

Assuming you are now sat looking at the desktop on your server, do the following (I have based this guide on a standard installation of Small Business Server 2008, but of course still applies to a stand-alone build of Exchange 2007, just follow the same steps):

• Click through Start>All Programs>Microsoft Exchange Server 2007>Exchange Management Console
• You’ll be greeted with a Windows needs your permission to continue dialogue box, select Continue
• Once in the console, expand Organization Configuration and highlight Client Access
• There should only be one policy active, which is the Windows SBS Mobile Mailbox Policy <servername>, right click this and select Properties
• Click on the Password tab
• Next uncheck the Require password checkbox and hit Apply then OK
• You can now close all of the open windows

You should now find that the forced passcode is no longer required.

If you found this guide useful, please leave a comment below.  Remember you can also subscribe to any future posts via email by clicking here.

For anyone wanting to download the official OTA Android 2.2 FroYo ROM for their HTC Desire directly from the HTC live server, you’ll find that they have removed the file.  Fear not, I have uploaded a mirror here.

If you need some guidance on installing the update, including installing on network branded and locked handsets, I have a guide here.

With the release of FroYo on the HTC Desire, HTC also bring us the ability to sync directly with iTunes via HTC Sync.  In order to use this new feature, you will need to download and install both the latest version of iTunes (v9 or greater) and HTC Sync [Mirror] (v3.0.5387).


The new version of HTC Sync not only gives the ability to sync with iTunes, but also allows far greater control over which items to sync with your PC and also, which items to backup from your phone; you can now control separately music, photos, calendar, contacts, bookmarks and documents.

Note: You need to uninstall the old version of HTC Sync before installing the new version and, although not prompted to do so, sync doesn’t seem to work until you have restarted your phone and PC after the install.

All in all, a very welcomed update.

Last update: 28/08/2010 18:15

Earlier today, HTC released via an OTA update FroYo, Google’s latest release of the Android operating system.  The release however was only targeted at those who purchased their handsets unlocked and devoid of any network operators branding.  Also, owing to possible concerns over bandwidth and server overloading the OTA update is being rolled out slowly so not everyone will have the notification to download just yet. So, that leaves those without an unlocked and unbranded handset left with Éclair (or Android 2.1) missing out on all of the FroYo fun.  However, there is of course a way around this; just follow this guide.

Caveat:  As is usual with such things, messing around with the ROM will void your manufacturers warranty so please be aware of this before proceeding, also whilst I have had absolutely not issues to date (and I have flashed the ROM many times now), should you encounter an issue part way through it is possible to brick your phone; so please ensure you understand these instructions before proceeding.  I will not be held liable for any damage you cause to your own handsets. For the purposes of this guide I am assuming like me, that you want to do a fresh install of FroYo and not an upgrade keeping all your current settings and apps in place, I choose to reinstall apps from the market afterwards.  Of course if you want to upgrade instead this should work also, although I have not tested it. This guide assumes that you have HBOOT 0.82 or below, if you have HBOOT 0.83 this method will not work and you will get an Error 140 during the RUU process.

Also worth noting that some of the newest Desires do not have the AMOLED screen anymore, but are shipping with SLCD which also have the 0.83 HBOOT, the update contains the screen driver for the AMOLED screens and not the SLCD screens, so if you follow this guide and perform the update, you’ll be left with a blank screen as the new driver is not compatible (if you have done this by mistake, there is a way back, but the fix is not for novices)

To find out which version of HBOOT you have you’ll need to reboot into FASTBOOT mode, turn your device off and restart with the volume down button pressed.  Also, please DO NOT flash this update if you are currently on Orange UK as the new radio contained within the update will cause you problems, instead you’ll have to wait for the official Orange update or delve into the world of custom ROMS (I recommend heading over to XDA Developers for further information). One final word of warning, by installing the official 2.2 update as in this guide, you will also upgrade your HBOOT version to 0.92 which means that you cannot ‘root’ your phone afterwards; of course this is not an issue if you have no intention of running custom software or messing around further with your device  Root will no doubt follow soon I would imagine.  In the mean time there is now also a way of downgrading your HBOOT, details can be found here.

Essentially, if you want the latest official Desire software as you would get ‘out of the box’ from a shop, this update is for you.  If you want a custom phone with the ability to access root, stop and ensure you fully understand that HBOOT will be upgraded before proceeding.

First of all, you need to complete the following important step:

• Read the above warning again and make sure you understand it; ensuring that you have the correct HBOOT version as reading some of the comments, some people have followed the guide with an HBOOT of 0.83

Next you need to set up ADB on your PC and ensure that you have the correct version of the USB driver (which if you have already installed HTC Sync, you should have) installed, to do this do the following:

• Download the latest Android SDK directly from Google by clicking here
• Extract the SDK .zip file to c:\AndroidSDK on your PC
• On your phone, click Settings>Applications>Development and ensure that USB Debugging is enabled
• Plug your phone into your PC via a USB cable (ensuring that your phone is on, obviously).  You should now get a popup telling you that new hardware device drivers are being installed; this might take a few moments to complete
• Open a command prompt and type the following:
  cd\ [then press Enter]
  cd AndroidSDK\tools\ [then press Enter]
  adb devices [then press Enter]
  you should see a serial number pop up, it’s the serial number of your phone.  If this is the case you can proceed to the next step

Next we need to create a goldcard by doing the following:

• Copy all of the data on your microSD card to a backup location on your PC
• Format the microSD to FAT32 format
• Open a command prompt one again and type the following:
  cd\ [then press Enter]
  cd AndroidSDK\tools\ [then press Enter]
  adb shell cat /sys/class/mmc_host/mmc1/mmc1:*/cid [then press Enter]
• You should get a long number something along the lines of 532600bd227d9c0347329407514d5420
• Goto this page and copy the number in the above step into the box and hit Submit, you’ll then be given another long number
• Go to this page and enter this new number into the SD Card Serial (CID) field
• Enter the other details and hit Generate Goldcard
• Check your email and save the attached goldcard image file to your pc, I usually save it to the desktop as you’ll be needing it shortly
• Download HxD Hex Editor from here and install
• Open HxD Hex Editor. If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, you must run the application as administrator
• Go to the Extra menu and select Open Disk.  Under physical disk, select Removable Disk (your microSD card), uncheck Open as Read-only and click OK.  Note that you should select physical disk NOT the logical disk
• Go to the Extra menu again and select Open Disk Image.  Open the goldcard image that you received by email and saved above
• You should now have two tabs; one is your removable disk and the other is your goldcard image.  Press OK when prompted for Sector Size (selecting 512 (Hard disks/Floppy disks)) and click OK
• Click on the goldcard image tab.  Go to the Edit menu, choose Select All then select the Edit menu again and select Copy
• Click on the Removable Disk tab.  Highlight offset (line) 00000000 to offset (line) 00000170 (including the 00000170 line), then click on the Edit menu and select Paste Write
• Click on the File menu and select Save, accepting the warning
• You now have a goldcard

Now that you have your goldcard, you need to download a generic HTC RUU update in order to flash your phone with a generic, unbranded version of Android 2.1

You can download the file from here (1.15.405.3 European), here (1.15.405.4 WWE) or here (1.21.405.2 WWE) – NOTE: Some people are finding that they can flash the 1.21 ROM and then FroYo directly, whilst others are finding that they need to flash the relevant 1.15 ROM first, if you try the 1.21 first and it doesn’t work you’ll get an error so simply re-try with the 1.15 and go from there.

To flash the update, simply run the file you have just downloaded (note: once this file is running it’ll restart your phone in bootloader mode and your PC will attempt to install another driver, it’ll work but the software will time out waiting to recognise your phone as your PC will need to restart to apply the new file.  Simply leave your phone connected and in the bootloader and restart your PC, then run the file again and it’ll work!) – You will now have an unbranded, generic Desire (although in my case I still had the Virgin boot screen curiously).  To double check, go to Menu>Settings>About Phone>Software Information and check that Software Number is 1.15.405.3, 1.15.405.4 or 1.21.405.2 before continuing. Next you need to download the FroYo update file which you can find here [Mirror - the file has already been renamed to update.zip], once you have done this rename the file update.zip and copy it to the root of your microSD.  Turn your phone off then do the following:

• Turn your phone on whilst holding down the volume down button to enter the HBoot menu
• Choose the Recovery option by using the volume down button and the power button to select, your phone should then restart in recovery mode where you’ll be greeted with a red triangle and exclamation mark
• Press and hold the volume up button and press the power button once, then choose to apply update.zip at the next menu
• The FroYo update will now take place during which time your phone will reboot several times, the whole process takes about 10 minutes
• Once you have booted up into FroYo and configured your settings, copy your files back onto your microSD card and you are good to go!.

** Looking ahead, I will create a similar walkthrough when Gingerbread is released, if you want to be notified when this is published, please signup to my blog feed via Feedburner to receive email notifications **

** A big thanks to Timi for all of his help answering the comments below.  It’s great to see when readers get involved and share their knowledge and expertise **

Operator Specific Instructions:

Please read down through the comments below to help with specifics relating to your network, also for specifics relating to your HBOOT.  For example, Virgin have handsets with both 0.75 and 0.80 HBOOTs and the procedure will vary slightly for both in so much as you need a different RUU to debrand the handset before being able to apply Froyo.  Orange, Vodafone, 3 and o2 again have different combinations.  The comments below are based on your experiences in combination with using the above guide.

I appreciate that there are a lot of comments to read through, but hopefully you’ll be able to pick out what you need; if I can, when I have some spare time I will try and pick out all the various bits of information and update the post or create a new one so you can quickly find the specifics you need for your handset/operator.

Downgrading HBOOT and installing custom Froyo ROM

If you have come across this post looking for a way of downgrading your HBOOT and installing a custom Froyo ROM instead of the official OTA ROM as detailed above, I have a post detailing how to do that here.

I hope you find this useful.  Enjoy!