Recently I had been very unhappy with my Hero phone being stuck on Android 1.5 version with HTC not giving any signs of upgrading for its users. I am keen to customize my Hero phone with an upgraded ROM, which provides so many additional functions as well as an updated Marketplace.
So thought I would just compile a step by step guide after searching all over the net for the proper steps on how to first root your HTC Hero phone, note: GSM version and from the original HTC Android version of 1.5 to a customized ROM of 2.1.
Various resources from the net yields different methods, but I am showing the steps that actually works as of 1 month ago, e.g. May 2010. As long as you follow them closely.
First and most importantly, you have to root your phone, in order to gain admin privileges, or so called "root" user rights to make changes to the phone.
This means reading up on this link HTC Hero Root access By fakker1's blog.
Making this work started everything for me. Thanks Fakker!
Next, with your rooted phone, just install a custom "Recovery Rom". The current one that works for me is AMON RA-Hero 1.6. What this Recovery Rom does is it gives you the utility options to select a Flash Rom to install, usually in .zip format. It also provides functions with Nandroid backup of all your existing data first, and allows you to partition your SD card so that a separate storage space is allocated for future functions such as running Applications from SD card(Apps2SD)
For a separate Nandroid backup explanation and steps, go to this link.
Go to the Hero's blog for installation instructions. AMON RA Recovery Image
Recovery image 1.6.2 is available for download on this link above as well as the adb command lines.
Note: the adb command line has to be done on your windows DOS box. e.g. run cmd->
For the adb tools and the android SDK, you need to first download and install from Android's development site.
There is a youtube video on how to install it
In summary,
1) Copy recovery-RA-hero-v1.6.2.img to the root of your sdcard
2) Connect your Hero via usb to your pc/mac/...
3) adb shell $su (not required if you have root already)
4) Boot into your current custom recovery (boot while holding HOME)
Once you are able to follow the steps above to install and boot into RA Hero's 1.6.2 image on your phone, you will get this screen.
With the custom recovery Rom in place, you can now flash customized Roms from the fabulous developers on any of the sites giving you GSM Hero Roms, but my personal favorite is from Hero Blog's SenseHero.
Thanks to Stickman!
This is my own image shot of Hero Sense 2.1 Build 5, taken with drocap2 :)
Have Fun flashing guys! ;)
