Well, i know this is kind of Necroing an older Post, but I wish to confirm something.... yeah, we are the only su**er that are damned with their Xiaomi Redmi 2A (HM 2A) .... If I would have just done a bit more research... I had checked like every corner to get Custom rom on my Phone as soon as it arrives, as it was supposed to be for my wife (Filipina with no Chinese background) and well... I didn't consider that the Redmi 2
A would turn out to be such a huge Problem.
You have like NO Userbase whatsoever that is working with that Device, that It really looks like you are an outcast... The Userbase of the Redmi 2 is HUGE ... but the Redmi 2A seems to be the Child nobody loves and wants.
In the End I can only give you the information I have found so far and what I had written on GSMArena (
http://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_redmi_2a-reviews-7159.php)
on the Problem with Chinese Bloatware and Language:
How to get the Phone nearly perfectly English without much Bloatware: (Link and Instruction here:
http://en.miui.com/thread-142581-1-1.html) (Chinese Developer Version for Redmi 2A)
I still have the Music Program that opens with Chinese Crap IF internet connection is available.
To get Google Playstore and Co: (Link and Instruction here:
http://en.miui.com/thread-3998-1-1.html)
Follow first Instruction: Backup what is to backup. Use Datacable to get the update.zip onto the Internal Memory -> Do the backup (Press: Vol+ & Vol- & Power) Should get you into Recovery, choose english and you can do the update. Takes a bit and you have a a Device that is almost perfect english.
Follow second Instruction and you can install with the App most Google Apps.
Regarding your Internet issue... well here in the Philippines it seems I have to suffer the same way, as I am unable to connect via Mobile Data to the Smart Bro network.... that su**s badly -.-
Now when you can get a Redmi 2 on DX for 80 USD, you might consider to buy it ... and sell your 2A as soon as possible on Ebay or something like it.
If you can get rid of it for 50-60 USD you might have not even lost too much... Maybe you are lucky enough to find someone as uninformed as we were. And if you are kind enough, you have it already prepared with the Chinese Developers Version, so that he doesn't have to suffer too long
Edit: Wow, that got more Text than i had anticipated O.O