HTC Hero user, dilemma, Root or Upgrade to 2.1? Might be long.

[Whiteicedmstech]

Not sure how to go about this...

I am trying to decide about either keeping my current HTC Hero (Firmware Version 1.5) or switching to the iPHONE. On the iPHONE, I am trying to figure out if I want the new iTOUCH or the new iPHONE. The problem is, the decision is dependent on my HTC Hero.

I like the Hero, but it just feels like something is "Lacking" or "Missing." But I can't explain it.

I have read on these forums here and there about how people have rooted there phone and how amazing it works and is compared to the official firmware out there.

I don't know much about rooting when it comes to Android. The closest thing I can think of that might be similar in nature is when I had a jailbroken iPOD TOUCH.

So now I am trying to figure out, to make my current HTC Hero "Better" or check it out the way it was meant to be, do I root it, or do I officially upgrade to 2.1?

If you happen to recommend rooting, I am hoping there is a simple way of doing it. If I am not mistaken, I believe there are multiple version to root to, so which one do I use and how do I go about rooting to it?

Thank you for your time and reading this,
Whiteice

 

[jen8112]

Use Universal Androot, you can root with one-click for 1.5 then you can remove all the useless stock apps from free up some space. That's what I did and I'm planning on leaving it like this for awhile. 2.1 doesn't sound very good and not that interested in using a custom ROM. But if you root it and it's not enough for you you can then add a custom ROM or update to 2.1.

 

[Whiteicedmstech]

Use Universal Androot, you can root with one-click for 1.5 then you can remove all the useless stock apps from free up some space. That's what I did and I'm planning on leaving it like this for awhile. 2.1 doesn't sound very good and not that interested in using a custom ROM. But if you root it and it's not enough for you you can then add a custom ROM or update to 2.1.

Thank you Jen.

Mine me asking where I can obtain the Universal Androot? I am hoping there is some kind of instructions somewhere since I have not done this before?

Thanks for helping a rooting n00b out

Whiteice

 

[jen8112]

Thank you Jen.

Mine me asking where I can obtain the Universal Androot? I am hoping there is some kind of instructions somewhere since I have not done this before?

Thanks for helping a rooting n00b out

Whiteice

You need Rom Manager that you can get in the market. Universal Androot was a download from a link that I can't remember where I got it at the moment. Check out the Everything Root thread in the stickies. I will check and see if I can find the link for ya, there was a video to show you how to do everything too. Oh also you can get Root Explorer after you root in the market to get ride of the stock apps and stuff. This was actually my first root so I'm pretty much a noob at this too.

 

[jen8112]

Here's the link to the video on YouTube. The link to the download is in the description. This is how I did it, soo easy!

YouTube - The EASIEST way to root an Android and add Recovery Image

 

[DonB]

Here you go, hope this helps, keep us posted, Universal 1-Click root - xda-developers

Thank you Jen.

Mine me asking where I can obtain the Universal Androot? I am hoping there is some kind of instructions somewhere since I have not done this before?

Thanks for helping a rooting n00b out

Whiteice

 

[clutch_08]

root your phone its not to hard i rooted my phone by the 3rd week that i own my phone. when i got my phone i new zero nothing about android. just look on xda. and on youtube for video on how to root and install custom roms. just make sure you are installing stuff for cdma not gsm. rooting your phone is free so give it a try. if you are going to install a rom after you root i suggest cm6 stable. i really like it. good luck

 

[DonB]

And if you decide to root and want to install a custom ROM here is a great thread for you to read done by Andygu3, very well explained, Setting up CM6

Thank you Jen.

Mine me asking where I can obtain the Universal Androot? I am hoping there is some kind of instructions somewhere since I have not done this before?

Thanks for helping a rooting n00b out

Whiteice

 

[Whiteicedmstech]

And if you decide to root and want to install a custom ROM here is a great thread for you to read done by Andygu3, very well explained, Setting up CM6

Thanks for the info.

I am really wanting to root, but extremely nervous about doing so. And after reading this thread about the CM6, it seems like there are a lot of problems "If you want this, then get this, if this happens, get this, if you want that, get that program."

Of course I want the "usual" things like the voicemail, gps, mms and what not.

If I root, I would somehow have to manually enable all of these functions? I was assuming when you root, that all of these options would still be in tact?

Whiteice

 

[jen8112]

Thanks for the info.

I am really wanting to root, but extremely nervous about doing so. And after reading this thread about the CM6, it seems like there are a lot of problems "If you want this, then get this, if this happens, get this, if you want that, get that program."

Of course I want the "usual" things like the voicemail, gps, mms and what not.

If I root, I would somehow have to manually enable all of these functions? I was assuming when you root, that all of these options would still be in tact?

Whiteice

Nothing changes when you root, just the ability to remove stock apps and load a custom rom. I tried CM6 and it was completely different! For one thing it's a vanilla Android rom so there is no Sence UI and you have to load the Google apps you actually need like gmail and stuff separately. It's too much of a pain in the ass for me. I just rooted and removed some stock apps and I'm happy.

ETA: I have rooted 1.5

 

[Whiteicedmstech]

Nothing changes when you root, just the ability to remove stock apps and load a custom rom. I tried CM6 and it was completely different! For one thing it's a vanilla Android rom so there is no Sence UI and you have to load the Google apps you actually need like gmail and stuff separately. It's too much of a pain in the ass for me. I just rooted and removed some stock apps and I'm happy.

ETA: I have rooted 1.5

Thanks again Jen. Sorry for the noobness but I am just trying to make sure I understand everything before I root.

Terms like "Vanilla Rom" I have no idea about

And I am also still trying to figure out the best route to go to root with my firmware 1.5 It seems like the Kitchen or Pre-Kitchen might be the way to go.

And when you root, are there ways of customizing the looks of the system instead of the generic stock look? From what I saw on the video, there are a couple of choices the Kitchen person put in with his program?

Whiteice

 

[jen8112]

Thanks again Jen. Sorry for the noobness but I am just trying to make sure I understand everything before I root.

Terms like "Vanilla Rom" I have no idea about

And I am also still trying to figure out the best route to go to root with my firmware 1.5 It seems like the Kitchen or Pre-Kitchen might be the way to go.

And when you root, are there ways of customizing the looks of the system instead of the generic stock look? From what I saw on the video, there are a couple of choices the Kitchen person put in with his program?

Whiteice

"Vanilla" is just "regular" Android, nothing wrong with it. My husband has it on his Motorola i1. It's just the OS. We have "Sense UI" on our Heros. It's just the look of the software and has more options then Vanilla. Like the big clock and the different widgets. You know when you click to add a widget and it says HTC or Android? Vanilla doesn't have the HTC ones. I like Sense that's why I didn't like CM6. There are other ROMs that "look" like Sense like Fresh and Zen, but just look like it.

Honestly I don't know what kitchen is, remember I'm kinda a noob too. But I think it's a ROM and not a root, they are different. Rooting your phone doesn't change the look of your phone or that way it works, just lets you do things like remove stock apps and load a custom ROM, rooting it not a ROM.

 

[Whiteicedmstech]

I must say that I am now more confused then I was when I first started.

I have read the different one click methods, and the kitchen one seemed to be the simplest. But with following the thread and trying to obtain the files, some of the files are no longer available.

From watching videos on other one click methods, it seems that I may need to have some programs installed on my SD card to begin with?

Basically what I am asking for is some help if someone doesn't mind taking the time.

What programs do I need to do this? I just want to start off at the beginning and get rid of some of the Sprint bloatware on my phone to clear up space.

I don't want to jack up my phone and that is what I am scared of with the confusion I have run into now.

Thank you,
Whiteice

 

[DonB]

Well you can root and stay as close to stock as you want, you can remove the Sprint bloatware and that will open some space up for you, but keep in mind the main access to rooting is to have full control of your phone, install a custom ROM depends on the needs you have, there are many out there that will meet your needs and they are not complicated, keep in mind, once rooted you can back up your image and play with as many ROMs as you want and still go back to your original backup fairly easy, read this, To anyone that is considering rooting..., If I were you I would post in the all things rooted section, post your needs and what you are looking for, and I am sure you will get more responses from already rooted peeps, good luck, keep us posted

I must say that I am now more confused then I was when I first started.

I have read the different one click methods, and the kitchen one seemed to be the simplest. But with following the thread and trying to obtain the files, some of the files are no longer available.

From watching videos on other one click methods, it seems that I may need to have some programs installed on my SD card to begin with?

Basically what I am asking for is some help if someone doesn't mind taking the time.

What programs do I need to do this? I just want to start off at the beginning and get rid of some of the Sprint bloatware on my phone to clear up space.

I don't want to jack up my phone and that is what I am scared of with the confusion I have run into now.

Thank you,
Whiteice

 

[dan330]

you should at least try to root and custom ROM before you leave android for the iphone. it would not hurt to give it a try. there are ways to put it back to stock ..before you get rid of it.

rooting on the hero is easy..
you should go to xda forum for all your needs and research:
[REF] ALL ROMS | ROOTING | FAQ's | STICKIES | POSTING RULES - Read before posting - xda-developers

I dont like the one-click method because it is too easy. I like the old way.. where you have to do more. there are step by step instructions. THis way you learn a few things.. just in case you need to know for other issues in the future. This is what I used:
[GUIDE] How To Root The Sprint CDMA Hero (Windows) - xda-developers

rooting only gives you 1 thing: permission/access to your phone so that you can do more! It dont change how it works or looks.

themes .. will change the look but not the function

ROMs.. change the function and OS. some include themes.
Example: CM Froyo ROMs will change the OS to android 2.2 and have 3 different themes: Vanilla, Blue, and now Black.

I am using the CM Froyo ROM with the Blue theme.
[ROM] (UPDATED 22-SEP) FroYo 2.2 - CM6 Extremely Blue, BlackMod AND Vanilla versions - xda-developers

suggestion:
1. Root
2. Nandroid - backup
3. Flash the CM Vanilla ROM
4. Flash the Gapp apps that they have for it.
5. try it out for a few days... if you want to try the other themes... you can flash the BLue or Black CM froyo right over the vanilla. No wipe data needed.
(always do a nandroid backup before!)

 

[doesgo]

I agree with dan330. If you're considering dumping the Hero, no harm done screwing around with it first to see if you can make it more enjoyable and save yourself a few hundred vs. buying an iDevice.

Just last week a friend sent me a link to an article about the Unversal Androot app/method and that started me on a four-day journey of research into rooting and custom ROMs. There's a lot of terms and information out there and the more research you can do and the more info you can take in, the better. I still don't feel like I know much, but the apps make it so easy it's hard not to pull the trigger. I rooted, but it took me a couple days to finally decide to install a custom ROM and I really like it.

Again, rooting does NOTHING except give you "superuser" access to your phone. You can get to folders and files you couldn't previously access. With ROM Manager (from the Market) you can then easily delete what programs you don't want (Sprint NASCAR, etc., for example) that will open up more space and should speed things up incrementally. Do a little research on what programs you can delete before doing so, however.

"Flashing" a custom ROM will replace your OS with something cleaner, more efficient, more advanced, or some combination. Depends which one you get, a decision which depends what you want.

The great thing is these ROMs are free (donations are no doubt accepted) and easy to change out in case you don't like one.

And, if you do a proper backup/image once you root, you can always go back to the way things were.

I guess I'm starting to repeat much of what was said above, so i'll stop. Check out the "All Things Root" thread above and start poking around. TONS of info there from forum regulars.

A couple of my favorite articles are below.

How to back up your system:
[Complete Guide] How To Fully Back Up And Restore Your Android Phone Using Nandroid Backup | Android News, Reviews, Applications, Games, Phones, Devices, Tips, Mods, Videos, Podcasts - Android Police

Basic walkthrough on rooting and installing the CyanogenMod ROM (I'd skip the part about flashing the radio, though):
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Full_Update_Guide_-_Sprint_Hero_with_Android_2.1

And, why root?
Rooting Explained + Top 5 Benefits Of Rooting Your Android Phone | Android News, Reviews, Applications, Games, Phones, Devices, Tips, Mods, Videos, Podcasts - Android Police

 

[doesgo]

I agree with dan330. If you're considering dumping the Hero, no harm done screwing around with it first to see if you can make it more enjoyable and save yourself a few hundred vs. buying an iDevice.

Just last week a friend sent me a link to an article about the Unversal Androot app/method and that started me on a four-day journey of research into rooting and custom ROMs. There's a lot of terms and information out there and the more research you can do and the more info you can take in, the better. I still don't feel like I know much, but the apps make it so easy it's hard not to pull the trigger. I rooted, but it took me a couple days to finally decide to install a custom ROM and I really like it.

Again, rooting does NOTHING except give you "superuser" access to your phone. You can get to folders and files you couldn't previously access. With ROM Manager (from the Market) you can then easily delete what programs you don't want (Sprint NASCAR, etc., for example) that will open up more space and should speed things up incrementally. Do a little research on what programs you can delete before doing so, however.

"Flashing" a custom ROM will replace your OS with something cleaner, more efficient, more advanced, or some combination. Depends which one you get, a decision which depends what you want.

The great thing is these ROMs are free (donations are no doubt accepted) and easy to change out in case you don't like one.

And, if you do a proper backup/image once you root, you can always go back to the way things were.

I guess I'm starting to repeat much of what was said above, so i'll stop. Check out the "All Things Root" thread above and start poking around. TONS of info there from forum regulars.

A couple of my favorite articles are below.

How to back up your system:
[Complete Guide] How To Fully Back Up And Restore Your Android Phone Using Nandroid Backup | Android News, Reviews, Applications, Games, Phones, Devices, Tips, Mods, Videos, Podcasts - Android Police

Basic walkthrough on rooting and installing the CyanogenMod ROM (I'd skip the part about flashing the radio, though):
Full Update Guide - Sprint Hero with Android 2.1 - CyanogenMod Wiki

And, why root?
Rooting Explained + Top 5 Benefits Of Rooting Your Android Phone | Android News, Reviews, Applications, Games, Phones, Devices, Tips, Mods, Videos, Podcasts - Android Police

 

[JB in AZ]

Seeing that this tread has turned into a discussion on rooting, I have moved it to the All things Root sub-forum