First time Android Hero owner...

[mplayer74]

Hello everyone, i'm a first time and proud owner of an unlocked HTC Hero, been using symbian all the time, but recently bought an HTC Hero from Thailand since it's not available here in the UAE(united arab emirates), our phone provider only has the magic with almost zero support!

anyways, my phone is the Asian(support English, Thai, Singapore languages) version with firmware version 1.5 and software 1.0.0.A6288

i would like to reflash my phone to the european software "ROM Upgrade for HTC Hero_2.73.405.5" from HTC UK HTC - Support - HTC Hero - Software Download

every time i try to flash it i get an error while it's in progress and quits the update. how do i go abouts doing this correctly? i also tried rooting my phone yesterday and finding the right files was difficult since "RapidShare" is a nightmare to download from.

i's like to update my phone to the latest U.K software. my phone is fine as it is, but sometimes i hit the wrong key on the keyboard and switches the keyboard to an Asian/Chinese like keyboard.

and help would be greatly appreciated....specially finding the right files to root the phone if that's what it'll take. and last thing, i tried doing it through theunlockr.com How To: Root Your Sprint Hero in One Click! | The Unlockr
and i still couldn't find the "mc-hero-recovery" all the sites that had it were rapidshare like, you either have to pay or wait for eternity(which still didnt allow me to download).

thanks, and i appreciate your help!

marwan,

 

[quantumrand]

You can give this method a try: http://androidforums.com/htc-hero/19660-guide-installing-modaco-custom-rom.html

But instead of using the MoDaCo Custom ROM (aka MCR), you can use this ROM image (Generic 2.73.405.5): http://content.modaco.net/hero/update-hero-generic-2.73.405.5-signed.zip

However, I am not certain the Flashrec method will work for your version. It's worth a try at least. If Flashrec says it is successful after flashing the custom recovery image, boot into the recovery menu (Home + PowerOn) and do a nandroid backup, followed by a Factory Reset/Wipe. Then do the update.zip (using that 2.73.405.5 ROM renamed to update.zip).

If you Flashrec method doesnt work, you will need to use the Gold Card method, which unfortunately I have no info on.

 

[mplayer74]

thanks bro, i'll give it a shot.

by the way, i booted into recovery mode before attempting anything, and i got a picture of a phone with the triangle and an exclamation mark in it. is that supposed to happen?

 

[mplayer74]

thanks bro, i'll give it a shot.

by the way, i booted into recovery mode before attempting anything, and i got a picture of a phone with the triangle and an exclamation mark in it. is that supposed to happen?

edit: this is so complicated, jail breaking an iPhone is so much easier!!!

 

[eargdf]

I believe the main language of Singapore is English.

 

[mplayer74]

I believe the main language of Singapore is English.

language is not my issue, it's the fact i cannot update to newer versions, plus hitting the wrong keyboard buttons brings up Chinese like characters.

 

[quantumrand]

thanks bro, i'll give it a shot.

by the way, i booted into recovery mode before attempting anything, and i got a picture of a phone with the triangle and an exclamation mark in it. is that supposed to happen?

That's the default recovery image. I doubt it will let you flash your ROM using the update.zip method.

You need to get the custom recovery image installed. It will look similar to this: http://androidandme.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/cmrecovery14.png

 

[mplayer74]

thanks man. where do i get the custom recovery image from?

 

[quantumrand]

thanks man. where do i get the custom recovery image from?

It's all in this post: http://androidforums.com/htc-hero/19660-guide-installing-modaco-custom-rom.html

The recovery image is in this zip archive: http://content.modaco.net/hero/1.1-hero-recovery.zip

Step 1: put the Flashrec apk onto your SD card as well as the recovery-RA-hero-v1.2.3.img file (extract it from the 1.1-hero-recovery.zip). Out of convenience (and to avoid possible errors) I renamed it cm-recovery.img.

Step 2: Using Atro File Manager (or any other apk installer), install the flashrec.apk file. You will need to have the Unknown Sources option ticked in Settings>Applications.

Step 3: Backup your recovery image using flashrec.

Step 4: Type into the text box, "/sdcard/cm-recovery.img" or whatever you renamed MoDaCo's recovery image to, and hit Flash.

Step 5: After the flash is successful, you can reboot into recovery mode (the button on Flashrec did not reboot my phone so I did it manually). To manually boot into recovery mode, hold Home while you turn on your phone.

Step 6: You should now be in the custom recovery mode. Select the Nandroid Backup option in order to create a backup of your current ROM.

Step 7: Select the Turn on Mass Storage option. This will allow you access to your SD card. For safety sake, copy the nandroid folder and the recovery-backup.img files to your computer and save them forever!!!! Then copy whichever MoDaCo ROM you chose to your SD card and rename it update.zip.

Step 8: Turn off Mass Storage and Flash your phone with the sdcard:update.zip option. Once complete, reboot the device and you should be done!!!

The only difference is that you'll be using that official ROM I linked you to in a previous post instead of the MoDaCo ROM. And you'll want to select the Factory Reset/Wipe option before the sdcard:update.zip option.

 

[fieldy]

Hello everyone, i'm a first time and proud owner of an unlocked HTC Hero, been using symbian all the time, but recently bought an HTC Hero from Thailand since it's not available here in the UAE(united arab emirates), our phone provider only has the magic with almost zero support!

anyways, my phone is the Asian(support English, Thai, Singapore languages) version with firmware version 1.5 and software 1.0.0.A6288

i would like to reflash my phone to the european software "ROM Upgrade for HTC Hero_2.73.405.5" from HTC UK HTC - Support - HTC Hero - Software Download

every time i try to flash it i get an error while it's in progress and quits the update. how do i go abouts doing this correctly? i also tried rooting my phone yesterday and finding the right files was difficult since "RapidShare" is a nightmare to download from.

i's like to update my phone to the latest U.K software. my phone is fine as it is, but sometimes i hit the wrong key on the keyboard and switches the keyboard to an Asian/Chinese like keyboard.

and help would be greatly appreciated....specially finding the right files to root the phone if that's what it'll take. and last thing, i tried doing it through theunlockr.com How To: Root Your Sprint Hero in One Click! | The Unlockr
and i still couldn't find the "mc-hero-recovery" all the sites that had it were rapidshare like, you either have to pay or wait for eternity(which still didnt allow me to download).

thanks, and i appreciate your help!

marwan,

Before you go doing something drastic, check the Locale options in the Settings menu (Menu>Settings>Locale&Text>Select Locale) - is there anything in there for you to set this to English only?

Also in the Touch Input settings there is a choice of Keyboard Language......

 

[blumenro]

I'm in the same situation. I purchased my Hero in Singapore not knowing that I will run into some issues . Basically most things are running fine from here in Germany. I also have the locale issue though (which sucks when it comes to text recognition/T9) and that my keyboard might change to a Chinese one (not really an issue - just have to avoid it ). Also I guess that I will have some issues with paid apps - but until now I'm only using free ones.

But the most severe issue I already see is with the upgrade to Android 2.1 coming (hopefully) end of April. HTC support from Singapore already told me that I won't be able to upgrade unless I'm in Singapore! And it won't be available online as well.

So I will also have to install a custom ROM at some point in time. Is the Modaco custom ROM that was mentioned above based on Android 1.5 or already on 2.1? But I would anyhow guess that better custom ROMs for 2.1 will be available after the official release, right? So I guess it would be wise to wait some more weeks before I mess around with my phone, or?

 

[walkinhotdog]

Is this the same build number as your guys? 2.73.707.9 146733 cl#62020 release-keys

I dont even know where my phone is from exactly. My guess is singapore, malaysia, or thailand. The locales i have are english (singapore, phillipines, thailand) and i have that chinese keyboard too.

That sucks if we wont be able to download the 2.1 update from the htc site when it comes out. And our phone is a pain in the ass to root, you need to use the gold card method.

Anyone know how over the air update works? Like we connect to the internet and who provides the update to our phone? Im in the US so is there a chance that OTA update wont work for me?

 

[Jaffa]

Specific carriers will give updates, whether OTA or by download, if your hand set is unlocked from HTC, if your phone serial number allows you to download non carrier specific stuff from the HTC website your fine. If your serial number does not give you access to downloads from HTC your out if luck

 

[walkinhotdog]

Well my serial doesnt let me download the latest USA firmware from the htc site, it says it is not suitable for this device. Mines unlocked and nonbranded. I then go into some other asian location on the htc site, but since they all shipped with the latest firmware, there is no update to download. Looks to me that either they put it up on the site, or we need to root or be stuck on 1.5 forever.

 

[blumenro]

Is this the same build number as your guys? 2.73.707.9 146733 cl#62020 release-keys

I have exactly the same build number.

And our phone is a pain in the ass to root, you need to use the gold card method.

Are you sure? What exactly does this mean?
I hoped that I just could install a custom ROM, if I can't get the official 2.1 release.

Anyone know how over the air update works? Like we connect to the internet and who provides the update to our phone? Im in the US so is there a chance that OTA update wont work for me?

HTC support from Singapore offered me that they could do it for me as I do not have a contract with SingTel. Well, I really don't think that is an option unless they pay me a ticket to travel there
I asked them whether there isn't a support team in Germany that could do the job as well. Still waiting for an answer.

 

[walkinhotdog]

Yea i did a lot of reading and asking questions about rooting our phone. Most heros can be rooted using a instantroot.apk that you put on your sd card and open. simple. It doesnt work on ours (ive tried it). Apparantly we need to downgrade our build number (goldcard method) which has a ton of steps, then root it.

Yea i think im out of luck here in the US as well. No way im flying there for an update lol. Maybe someone can post up the official ROM file for our hero online once its out.