HTC Desire HD Gets Android 4.4.2 via CyanogenMod 11-Based Nexus 5 Experience KitKat ROM

HTC Desire HD users can now enjoy the latest Android 4.4.2 KitKat features, thanks to the release of Nexus 5 Experience KitKat ROM compiled using CyanogenMod 11, and stock Android 4.4.2 KitKat from Google.

The ROM portrays look-alike user-interface (UI), themes and features borrowed from Nexus 5's stock KitKat firmware. Apt to its title, it turns your HTC Desire HD into Nexus 5 clone.

Android 4.4.2 Nexus 5 Experience KitKat ROM Features

The Nexus 5 Experience KitKat ROM brings a plethora of new KitKat features based on stock Android 4.4.2 KitKat and top custom features hand-picked from CyanogenMod 11 ROM. Thus it gives a taste of both worlds with the purity of stock firmware, and the flexibility, speed and stability of CyanogenMod custom ROM.

Check out some of the key features ported into this ROM, before you decide to install it:

• This is built from CM11 Sources for Desire HD
• Full Nexus 5 Experience since the first boot with Google Launcher, Google Dialer, Stock Wallpapers including the default Nexus 5 wallpaper, Ringtones, Lockscreen transparency and Stock apps
• Always the latest Gapps Updates from Google
• Deodexed Rom
• CM 4.4.2 kernel w/ ro.secure=0 (root permissions)
• Auto Zipalign of /data/app
• Sqlite3 script
• Swap script
• Busybox 1.21.1 with init.d support
• Useless logging disabled to save ram
• Theme Support
• Battery and Network tweaks
• Jelly Bean Nexus Bootanimation
• Nexus 5 Audio & Sounds
• GPU rendering with no kernel check
• Charging Sounds
• Some good things from CM11

Interested users can follow our step-by-step guide to install the latest Android 4.4.2 KitKat update via Nexus 5 Experience KitKat ROM on the HTC Desire HD.

IBTimes UK reminds its readers that it will not be held liable for any damage to device during or after firmware installation. Users are advised to proceed at their own risk.

Downloads Required

• Android 4.4.2 Nexus 5 Experience KitKat ROM

Pre-requisites

• The CyanogenMod 11 Based Nexus 5 Experience KitKat ROM and the instructions given in this guide are meant for the Galaxy S4 LTE (GT-I9505) model only. Verify device model number by navigating to Settings > About Phone.
• Back up data and settings using a recommended custom recovery tool, like ClockworkMod (CWM) or TWRP, as it creates a complete image of the existing phone setup. In Recovery, choose Backup and Restore and tap Backup.
• Verify correct USB drivers for the phone are installed on the computer (download HTC Desire HD USB drivers).
• Ensure USB debugging mode is enabled on the phone, by navigating to Settings > Developer Options (NOTE: Tap the phone's Build Number seven times to unlock or reveal the hidden Developer Options under Settings.) Then select the checkbox to enable USB debugging mode under Settings > Developer Options.
• Make sure the phone has at least 80% battery charge to prevent unexpected device shutdown (due to battery drain) while installing the ROM.
• Ensure the device is unlocked (not locked to a specific carrier) and rooted with latest ClockworkMod (CWM) Recovery (v6.0.4.5 or higher) installed.
• If the device is stuck at booting or experiencing boot loop issues, perform Wipe Cache Partition and Wipe Dalvik Cache a few more times before rebooting.
• Allow newly installed ROM to stabilise for five minutes before you start working on it.

Steps to Install CyanogenMod 11 Based Android 4.4.2 Nexus 5 Experience KitKat ROM on HTC Desire HD

• Download Nexus 5 Experience Android 4.4.2 KitKat ROM for HTC Desire HD to your computer and extract boot.img from the zip file separately.

• Connect and mount the phone's USB mass storage on your computer with USB cable.

• Copy the downloaded Android 4.4.2 ROM zip file to the root folder on the phone's SD card.

• Then copy the boot.img file to android-sdk-windowsplatform-tools directory.

• Now power off the phone and boot it into Bootloader/Fastboot mode. To do so, press and hold Volume Down and Power buttons together for a few seconds.

• Once the phone enters Fastboot mode, browse to android-sdk-windowsplatform-tools directory (on computer) and open Command Prompt (hold Shift and Right-click on desktop, then choose Open Command Prompt).

• Now type the following command and hit Enter:

fastboot flash boot boot.img

• Then type the following command and hit Enter:

fastboot reboot

• Follow the onscreen navigational instructions. Then select Bootloader and proceed to Recovery mode. NOTE: In recovery mode, use Volume keys to navigate between options and Power key to select the desired option.

• Perform Wipe data/Factory reset (this will delete all apps and their settings and game progress) and choose Yes on next screen to confirm the action.

• Return to CWM recovery main menu and select Mounts and Storage> Format System and click Yes on next screen to confirm.

• From the main menu of CWM recovery, go to Advanced and choose Wipe Dalvik Cache. Then hit Yes on next screen to confirm.

• Select Install Zip from sdcard and then click Choose zip from sdcard. Browse to the location of the Nexus 5 Experience KitKat ROM file which you copied earlier to your phone's SD card. Choose Yes on next screen to confirm the firmware installation.

• Repeat the previous step to install Google Apps as well.

• Once Google Apps is also installed, select "+++++Go Back+++++"and reboot the phone by tapping reboot system now from the recovery menu. Your HTC phone will restart and it may take about 5 minutes for first boot. So, do not interrupt the process.

Your HTC Desire HD is now running on Android 4.4.2 KitKat via CyanogenMod 11 based Nexus 5 Experience KitKat ROM. Go to Settings > About Phone to verify the firmware installed.

[Source: Team Android]