Dell Streak 5: How to Install Official Gingerbread ROM (Android 2.3.3)

I just installed Official Dell Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3) ROM on my Dell Streak 5 (DS) and it works quite well so far. Now the front facing camera works for Skype. Fring used to do this in Froyo, but now more options for Face chat. The launcher is same Dell Stage, so do not expect a very different UI when you boot up. I heard one guy yelling at Dell in one forum.. "Dell cheated.. It is not different from Froyo". Honeycomb will bring the ultimate change, but don't know whether DS development will go that far. Considering that Dell Streak is the only Pentagon approved Android phone for Defense use and Dell provides support to them, we may see some more updates in near future.
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UPDATE 29th Dec 2011: Please read the disclaimer at the footer of this page. You should know what you are doing. Do your home work, use Google and learn about it. Visit XDA forum tutorials and discussions. The post here is my experience installing into only one Dell Streak 5. Your Dell Streak ROM version could be different. I have no idea what will happen in all those different ROMs and situations. FYI, I was upgrading from US unlocked Froyo 2.2.2, (360) to 2.3.3 (407). Back up your important files and keep a spare phone ready in any unfortunate event. Ok, my disclaimer ends now.

UPDATE 30th Dec 2011: Gingerbread 2.3.3 ROM is significantly snappy and smooth compared to Froyo. I'm very happy with it so far. Only problem I find till now is that USSD code is not working. I can't check the balance by the code. But I use the carrier app to check the balance etc. So it's not an issue for me. (Check T-mobile app in Android market, if you are a T-mobile US customer and if you are not aware about it).

Remember that I don't have any control over the external download links/files. I noticed that the Fastboot+ADB zip file contents have been reorganized by the owner of the file to add new option for different OS platforms. So change the folder accordingly to see fastboot.exe. From one of the fellow netizen's comment, it appears that there could be easier methods at XDA form. Google it. 

UPDATE 12th Feb 2012: Added the Dell driver link and edited to reflect the change in Fastboot+ADB.zip file reorganization. New archive contain files for Linux and OSX also.


UPDATE 8th May 2012: How to fix the USSD code problem? Well, I got it fixed following the instructions at XDA forum. Thanks to hunderteins and TheManii. 
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?s=11f3127f9489d2629df1a87349664f5e&t=1558089

UPDATE 12th May 2012: I've posted detailed instructions to fix USSD code problem.
http://techienetizen.blogspot.com/2012/05/dell-streak-5-ussd-code-problem-fix-for.html
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Here's the process I followed.

Requirements:

1. A PC and DS USB cable: You should have your Dell Streak drivers installed on your PC. It's available from Dell support site. http://ftp1.us.dell.com/Handheld/R288920.exe
2. You need fastboot tools
   http://mirror2.streakdroid.com/manii/Tools/Fastboot+ADB.zip
   Unzip to a folder; say C:\Fastboot+ADB

3. Download official Gingerbread release from Dell. This is a Korean carrier, Olleh, version. But English language is available.
   http://mobileupdate.dell.com/PackageProductionLocations/Streak_407_20707_14.pkg
   Rename the downloaded ROM to update.pkg and transfer it to your phone SD card

4. Download corresponding recovery image.
   http://mirror2.streakdroid.com/manii/407/recovery.img
   Copy ‘recovery.img’  to fastboot tools directory (i.e. C:\Fastboot+ADB\Win32)

First step is to flash to correct recovery

• Connect your DS to PC (You already installed drivers to it) and copy Streak_407_20707_14.pkg to the DS SD card and rename it as update.pkg. (i.e. /sdcard/update.pkg)
• Stop USB connection and power down DS (DS is still physically connected to the PC through the cable)
• Press and hold down the camera button and then press the power button. Release the button when you see a white screen
• Select Fast boot mode on the top right on your mobile (DS display will show FASTBOOT_MODE)
• Now it’s time to do some DOS commands from your PC to communicate with DS through the connected USB cable.
• On your PC, navigate to the path where you unzipped the fastboot tools.(C:\Fastboot+ADB\Win32). You have already copied the recovery (C:\Fastboot+ADB\Win32\recovery.img) to this folder. (see requirements)
• Press Shift key and from right click menu on anywhere on the folder (on empty space without selecting any files or folders) open a DOS command window on that folder. Or Start menu > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt. Now type 'cd C:\Fastboot+ADB\Win32'. Type dir and you should see all the files and folders in C:\Fastboot+ADB\Win32. Type 'fastboot' and you should see a list of command options.
• type 'fastboot -i 0x413c flash recovery recovery.img' without the quotes and hit enter. You can see that your DS screen shows the response. (Make sure that the DS white screen says 'download done' or something like that.)
• type 'fastboot -i 0x413c reboot' without the quotes and hit enter. This will reboot your phone. Now on rebooting, immediately enter to recovery mod (hold both volume buttons while powering on).

The update process:

• Now you are booted to new recovery. Select option 2; software upgrade via Update.pkg on SD card. You will see a warning saying that all your data will be erased. (You already know that, don't you?). Did you see a serial number ending in 40714? (If you used 407 recovery) This step is to make sure that you have flashed 407 recovery properly. If not you may need to press the volume up button to power off and flash again
• Press the shutter button (camera) to continue and you should see a progress bar. Leave it to do the update. It'll reboot once its done. You should see one more update process with progress bar showing a 'Dec 1' date.
• Once these are done you will see Olleh logo on boot. Gingerbread now. Play around (if you don't know to read Korean) and change the language to English. (When you touch the Android, the button below right is for language I guess)

Thanks a bunch to the geeks at XDA forum for their fantastic job!

Now how to root this ROM? Check my next post.

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Reference:
New ROM :: 407 OFFICIAL GB ROM IS OUT

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1402538

Dell Streak 5 XDA Wiki

http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/Dell_Streak#Official  

Other links
Dell releases official Gingerbread ROM for Streak 5
http://www.streaksmart.com/2011/12/dell-releases-official-gingerbread-rom-for-dell-streak-5.html

Some background information for beginners

ROM:

A ROM is the actual Android operating system installed on your Dell Streak. Check whether your OS is update by checking the latest release (See reference). Your can see the version, build details etc from Settings > About Phone. The factory installed ROM of my DS when I bought it was version 345, build 15380, Android 2.2.2 Unlocked US version. So the corresponding ROM is Streak_345_15380_00.pkg

You can see all the releases here:

http://mirror2.streakdroid.com/manii/

http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/Dell_Streak#Official

Fastboot:

Fastboot is a protocol used to update the flash file system in Android devices from a host over USB connection (to your PC).You’ll use the DS 40 pin USB connector/charger to do fastmode commands. It allows flashing of partition images. This is one way to load/delete/modify your recovery image. To do any upgrading you need to use fastboot.

http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/Fastboot

http://www.gotontheinter.net/content/fastboot-cheat-sheet

http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/Dell_Streak/Flashing_Guide