HTC Desire HD firmware update tweaks Wi-Fi then breaks GPS

Posted 21st July 2011 at 11:14am by Dew Alam

HTC has begun rolling out a new over-the-air firmware update for Desire HD handsets in the UK and Europe.

Version 2.50.405.2 of HTC’s OS (not to be confused with Android) is a minor bump that fixes an as-yet-unknown bug and improves the handset’s Wi-Fi performance.

According to initial user reports from Twitter, the install, which is 19.8M in size, appears to have gone down smoothly. However, since then a small number of users on the xda-developers forum have reportedly noticed a faster draining of battery life since upgrading, while others are complaining that it is causing the handset’s GPS to malfunction.

The scale of the problems will not be known until the update has been pushed out a large number of handsets, so in the meantime, it’s advisable that you avoid installing until your network or HTC confirms that it is safe to do so.

If you’ve installed the update and have noticed any changes for better or worse, please let us know in the comments section below.

Via:

xda-developers

More news on: Downloads, Apps & software, HTC, Android mobile phones, HTC Desire HD

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20 Comments

Only show comments

Gav, 21st July 2011.

Installed the update. GPS no longer works... thanks HTC!
Reply
Keith, 21st July 2011.

No problem here, latitude has just pinpointed my location right at my front door.
Reply
Fraser, 21st July 2011.

I have recently updated the software on my HTC Deires HD TO 2.50.161.2 since then the GPS does not work. When I run GPS Status, it picks up no satelites at all and when I turn off GPS the GPS symbol stays on.

I sent it back to HTC after speaking to them on the phone, it has been sent back to me after a week just set it all up and it has exactly the same problem please HELP
Reply
Bob Mudford, 22nd July 2011.

The GPS has broken for many users. See here for notes:

English:

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/HTC-Desire-Series/Latest-update-to-version-2-50-161-2-has-broken-GPS-Desire-HD/td-p/825041

Spanish:

http://www.forovodafone.es/topic/15281-actualizacion-del-htc-desire-hd/

Reply
Dick, 23rd July 2011.

Gps seems to be working fine after update, accuracy no better or worse than usual.
Reply
Paul, 28th July 2011.

Works perfectly fine for me. The battery seems to be exactly the same GPS hasn't changed. No need to hold off from the update.
Reply
Richard Knoop, 31st July 2011.

No GPS after update, using a vodafone brander dhd
Reply
George, 1st August 2011.

A few days ago I installed the update and GPS does not work any more. In addition the battery is draining much faster... Any suggestions how to remove the update?
Reply
Ganesh, 2nd August 2011.

Update few days ago in Netherlands. No problems with GPS nor battery.
Reply
John, 3rd August 2011.

Update killed gps function totally. Gps symbol flashes whether gps switched on or off.
Reply
Richard Knoop, 4th August 2011.

Vodafone UK has a thread in this issue:

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/HTC-Desire-Series/Desire-HD-GPS-issues-following-recent-udpate/td-p/837141

Lets hope they fix it soon.
Reply
Dude, 14th August 2011.

Dont update it KILLS your GPS, no need to risk it, just wait for better update
Reply
Irelevant, 15th August 2011.

i have read the posts about the new update killing the gps, so i delayed the update till today. after updating to 2.50 firmware the gps is working fine!
no other problems detected!

i own a DHD orange branded (Romania)
Reply
Steve Harris, 21st August 2011.

Had nothing but trouble since this update. No WIFI connection anywhere - at home via my hub or out and about - makes the phones pretty much useless - smart phone my bottom - it's just a lump of metal and plastic with a hefty price tag at the moment - not a happy bunny. Emailed Jon French CEO of HTC UK to express my disgust at this - no reply and no solutions at all.
Connects at home but then disconnects immediately. Picks up wifi from all over where I live but not the one in my house - figure that!! Solutions gratefully received.
Reply
AndrewG, 22nd August 2011.

My GPS stopped working after the 'upgrade' to Gingerbread. No problems before that. HTC's customer support have been pretty useless, saying they are not responsible for 3rd party apps- problem is those apps all worked perfectly before the update.
Reply
Said Said, 23rd August 2011.

Iam so happy with the update and I think its good update. Thanx bye
Reply
frogster99, 30th August 2011.

Orange branded dhds are the same no gps what a let down I've only had the phone 4 month it worked for 3 untill I updated to gingerbread they said I will just after don't think so Orange I chose this phone for its features if the feature disappears then I want a new phone with them features rant over

Reply
Karl Robertson, 8th September 2011.

I have a HTC Desire HD on a UK Vodafone network. Yesterday my GPS refused to obtain a fix, so my favorite applications are now useless (Car Panel and Trimble Outdoors). The software build is 2.5.161.3 CL123205, KERNEL 2.6.35.10...., HTC SENSE 2.1 and Android 2.3.3. What do I do?
Reply
Daniel Tovey, 22nd September 2011.

Installed the latest update last month on my HTC desire HD and now have no WiFi or GPS. Great, thanks for that Orange and HTC remind me to never get another one again from you, updates are supposed to fix things not break them. The worst thing about it all is that both Orange aand HTC don't won't to know or care about it.....thanks for that, remind me why I should ever buy another expensive lump of useless metal from you again..as that's all I have been left with since the gingerbread update...
Reply
Joe In MD, 14th May 2012.

One problem with the Desire HD is that GPS quit working when I installed a Speck case. Remove the case, GPS is fine?????
Reply