How To: Load a Custom ROM on the Dell Streak (Updated 12.13.10)

I. Before You Begin

1. You must have done our How To Root the Dell Streak procedure. Once done, you can come to this procedure to continue.

II. Flash a Custom Recovery Image

1. Download the Custom Recovery Image flashing script for your version of Android.

Android 1.6 (If you are on Android 1.6, click this link and then download the recovery files UNDER RECOVERY and download those files).

Android 2.1 (If you are on Android 2.1, click this link and then download the recovery files UNDER RECOVERY and download those files).

2. Turn off your phone, take out the battery, then put the battery back in.

3. Turn on the phone by holding down the Camera button and Power, keep holding them until the bootloader screen comes up.

4. Select Fastboot at the top right and then wait 10 seconds.

5. After the 10 seconds, plug the phone into the computer via the USB cable.

6. Unzip the Recovery Flashing files you downloaded earlier and open the folder.

7. Double click “install-recovery-windows.bat” and wait for it to finish. The phone should automatically reboot and you now have a custom recovery image!

III. Load a Custom ROM

1. Head to our Dell Streak ROMs section and choose a ROM you want, then download it to your computer.

2. Plug your phone in via USB cable and mount the sd card so we can transfer files to it.

3. Copy the ROM .zip file (do not extract it, leave it as a .zip) to the root of the SD card (not in any folders, just on the sd card itself).

4. Unplug the phone and turn it off.

5. Turn it back on by holding down Volume Down, Volume Up and Power and keep holding all three buttons until the recovery screen appears.

6. Select “Software Upgrade via Update.pkg on SD card” to open the custom recovery.

7. Navigate with the volume keys and select using the camera button, and select Nandroid Backup to perform a backup.

8. Once it is done, go back and select Wipe Data.

9. Now, go back and select Apply .zip from SD card and choose the ROM you saved to the sd card. Wait for it to finish flashing.

10. Once done, go back and select Reboot System Now. Once the phone reboots, you are on a custom ROM, enjoy!

Thanks Modaco!

Reported Issues

Issue: I get stuck at a black screen after I select “Software Upgrade via Update.pkg on SD card”.

Solution: Redo this procedure from the beginning and use the alternative Recovery Flashing Script and try it again.

35 thoughts on “How To: Load a Custom ROM on the Dell Streak (Updated 12.13.10)”

  1. ive rooted the streak and updated the CRI. I also had the 2.1 eclair rom running then i guess i got greedy and tried to root again because it seem to be gone….now the phone cant get passed the dell boot loader..any help would be great. i guess im not what u would call a nube ive worked with the my touch b4…keep in mind im workin from a mac and not windows…thx

    1. Johnathan,

      Just boot into recovery (volume up and volume down and power and keep holding it until it gets to the menu, then hit upgrade via update.pkg) and reflash the 2.1 update.pkg (that should still be on your sdcard).
      Then to root after you get back to a working ROM, just download AndRoot.apk and install it and you’ll be rooted on 2.1

  2. i tried to refresh the 2.1 pkg file and it goes to a black screen after i select upgrade via update on sd card….i waited for about 20 min still nothing..

  3. It all went through successfully but then afterweards i could’nt activate the phone, tried a few times but kept saying Android had stopped unexpectedly. I restored the system to an earlier date via the Streak back up manager.My phone is locked to O2 so dont know if this is the cause of the problem. Any way enjoyed the dabble, not bad for an old duffer like my self.
    keep up the good work.

  4. Attemting to flash a custom recovery image: While waiting for the “install-recovery-windows.bat to finish, my Streak appears to be stuck on a white screen that states:
    FASTBOOT Mode
    Download Recovery Done!

    Any suggestions on how to recover?

  5. I keep getting stuck on the black screen. I used the other recovery flash script, but still seems to not wanna work. Any other ideas? BTW, I’m having the same problem as JR on the white FlashRom screen, it’s not rebooting….that might have something to do with it.

    1. I thought I would share a very simple solution to the problem I had for awhile. (god did i feel dumb)

      (E MISC cannot be found.) <—- to resolve this instead of selecting apply, scroll down a couple of options and select install instead, and then search sdcard, and point to update.zip that way. I guess this is because obviously any sdcard can have a different drive letter and it wasnt finding it. Install went smoothe after that. Me personally(n00b) I was afraid to explore the options of the menu, didnt want to brick the device.

  6. I did all the steps, rooted used the clockwork got the rom unziped on scard it installed and was complete i clicked reboot system now when my streak restarted it was still on v1.6 ? now all i have is a much slower streak and the menu/home/back buttons flash??

  7. Type* I did not unzip the rom i copied the zip folder to F:drive and not in any sub folders I did not rename the rom zip folder “update” was I supposed to?

  8. I cant get out of 1.6 , I have rooted it and now it just flashes the home, settings and previous buttons ? What can I do to stop that?

  9. i m a new user to the streak and that where i got confused wen i root my device, all the menu, home n back button keep flashing….i wonder what happen to my streak,, any advice is appreciated….hlp plzzz

  10. first and foremost thanks for the video.. now the problem that is happening with me is when i try to update the ROM, it wont let me. when i click on the ROM pkg it goes inside of it and shows all the files and folders in it. please help if your able. i tried everything i know. thanks

  11. Hi I could really use some help trying to figure this stuff out… I have rooted my phone with another method and now I’m trying to make a custom recovery and I select fastboot and my phone just sits at waiting for fastboot detect… I wait 10 seconds and plug my usb in and nothing… It never goes to fastboot mode!!!!

      1. wondering if there is ANY additional details you might provide about usb driver setup? i’ve updated using Dell mobile sync. still sits and waits for fastboot. using OTA Android 2.2 from Dell. i’ve already rooted it.

  12. my computer opens the instal-recovery-windows.bat but it just says “waiting for device” and my streak is in fastboot mode? any suggestions?

  13. my computer opens the instal-recovery-windows.bat but it just says “waiting for device” and my streak is in fastboot mode? any suggestions?

  14. dell streak 5 android 2.2 benim telefonda var..2.3 veya 3.0 nasıl yükleyebilirim.
    …..yardım (HELP ACİL ) istiyorum.

    ubuntu yüklesem andoid oyunlarını ve programlarını yükleyebilirmiyim…çalışırmı android programları..??

    BİLEN VARSA..AÇIKLASIN..
    TEŞEKKÜR EDERİM. ..İSTANBUL/TURKEY..AHMET..

  15. hello everyone. i need help on how and where i can download a factory data back up for my dell streak 5. i did a factory reset on my device without backing up and now all that appear is the dell logo. can someone help me please!!!! thanks.

    joey

  16. Aaronsk8ter18

    my dell streak is on 2.2, rooted but once im on fastboot mode and i open the batch file, nothing happens, it flashes for like half a second but then its gone, any advice?

  17. Really good guide for newbies like myself. Rooted, flashed and loaded Gingerstreak on my Dell Streak in 20 minutes.

  18. I did everything as per instructions. But I am getting a weirodo error – 
    Finding update package…Opening update package…..Installing update…..Formatting CACHE…Formatting system….Copying files…..Copying files…..E:Cant chown/mod/data/local(No such file or directory)E:Failuire at line 341:set_perm_recursive 1000 1000 0771 0644 Data LocalInstallation aborted.Any help…..???

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