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should I root or not

andygu3

Android Expert
May 24, 2010
4,697
2,079
Lewis Center, OH
First time post!! I'm deciding whether or not to root. (1) Sprint Hero 2.1 with recent .6 Can I still root? (2) My phone works great, no problems at all. Is it still worth rooting if I can? Download speeds 800-1200, Upload 400-800, (in Columbus, OH). Linpack is around 2.2-2.4. (3) I have downloaded some 35 apps from market, maybe have had 10 force closes total since I bought phone in Oct. Can force closes be more frequent running on different roms? I read some do some don't. (4) I really enjoy the Hero and just want to tinker with it, get rid of some of Sprint apps I don't use: nascar, nav, sprint tv, stock messaging app, stocks, etc... If anyone out there can push me in the right direction, I would really like to root especially now the source code for froyo has been released and I doubt the Hero will see 2.2. Thanks again to these great forums, you guys have helped with any issue I have had which has been minimal but helpful!:rolleyes:
 
(1). Yes, you can still root. If you read up on the how to root 2.1, you will find out that you can still do it.

(2). It really is a matter of preference as to being "worth it" or not. I personally wouldn't have it any other way. I can load whatever I want, and customize whatever I want. We had 2.1 way before it was released by Sprint, which to me was worth it :).

(3). Force closing is usually app related. I have not had a single force close anymore. I was running Fresh 2.1.2, which I had no FC on, and now I am trying DarchDroid 2.7 which I also have not had any FC on.

(4). You can remove those apps after you root, or you can flash a ROM after you root which has most of those removed already.

Best advice I can give is read read and read some more. Do your research properly, take your time, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. There are several links/guides/tutorials right here. Read up and have fun :)
 
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Best advice I can give is read read and read some more. Do your research properly, take your time, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. There are several links/guides/tutorials right here. Read up and have fun :)

This, IMO, is the best advice available. Do it after you read and are ready.

It may be an hour until you are ready, it may be a year. Don't rush into it.
 
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Ok, now I've done all the research on the rooting process! I feel comfortable to move forward, next questions: (1) how do I flash a new rom, (2) if I don't like it, howe do insure that I still have root, (3) and last, fresh or darch? Thanks for your help, hopefully these are not stupid questions!

(1). This is included in the guide/tutorial I wrote up. Check near the end.

(2). You will not loose root flashing a new ROM. Think of it this way; Consider your ROM like a new OS for a computer. You can install it at will (as long as the ROM is for the Sprint CDMA Hero). You also then have this thing called nandroid backups. Think of them like a system restore. You create a backup of what you are currently running, and then you can change things up as you like. When done playing, you can always nandroid (system restore) back.

(3). Which ROM is up to you. I've used both and am currently still using DarchDroid 2.7. So far I love them both (Fresh and Darch). Try them and see which suits you more. Darch will not have sense in it and Fresh will. Some people are partial to sense, others hate it. See what you like best.
 
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Ok, now I've done all the research on the rooting process! I feel comfortable to move forward, next questions: (1) how do I flash a new rom, (2) if I don't like it, howe do insure that I still have root, (3) and last, fresh or darch? Thanks for your help, hopefully these are not stupid questions!

To flash a rom, put the zip file on the root of your sd card, boot into recovery, do a nandroid backup, go back to the recovery screen, wipe data and dalvik, go back to the recovery screen, choose flash zip, let it do its thing, then choose reboot. The first reboot usually takes 10 minutes or more. You then need to redo your google acct. You should be all set.

As far as which rom, I started with fresh, but damage haas good roms too.
Sent from my HERO200 using Tapatalk
 
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Nope, continue with his method, it was just different than mine. At what step are you having a problem? Post the step number you are having a problem with, and any associated error messages.

Edit: I think I know where your at, you type adb devices and you get device not found? If so follow this...

If you get "device not found" error, you either need to make sure you the drivers were properly installed or make sure you enable USB debugging on your phone. Continue on once you get the proper phone serial output.

Do you have USB debugging turned on? To turn it on:

Go to Settings > Applications > Development > and make sure it is checked
 
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Did you save the files in that location? The 3 that you downloaded?

You need to create that directory you have listed, and then save the files you downloaded into that same directory. Then you go into the command prompt, change directories and then run the adb devices command.

If you have verified that, I would download the files again, and delete and then recreate that directory and try again.
 
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I just rooted my phone for the first time last this week and just Flashed Fresh 2.1.2 to it this morning. I can already see the difference in speed and performance. This thing was nearly a brick running Stock 2.1. I was considering getting an Evo shortly because this thing was such a slow pig but now I may let it stick around for awhile. :)
 
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Thanks for your help, I am still not having any luck at all rooting. I've searched any and all threads possible, I cannot find a solution to my problem. I want to root 2.1 with the regaw method, downloaded sdk, htc sync and hero-root. zip. (Step 9)All files extracted C:\android-sdk-windows\tools. I type in adb devices and it gives an error: adb is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program and batch file. What am I doing wrong, I have no idea where to go from here. If this is an easy fix, PLEASE let me know.:):thinking:
 
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