Upgrading OS for Hero

[gabrieldaigle]

I've still got Android OS 1.5 and I'm thinking about flashing Cyanogen Mod 7.1. Anybody else done this and has it increased the reaction time between functions, because this phone can be dreadfully slow.

Thanks,
Gabriel

 

[DonB]

If you are rooted, then flashing a new ROM will increase the speed of your phone, if not then you need to root before you flash

I've still got Android OS 1.5 and I'm thinking about flashing Cyanogen Mod 7.1. Anybody else done this and has it increased the reaction time between functions, because this phone can be dreadfully slow.

Thanks,
Gabriel

 

[Granite1]

I noticed a significant increase in speed when I flashed the AOSP roms on my rooted Hero. I went from hating to loving my phone.
Rooting my Hero was the best decision I made!

 

[KitsapAndroid]

Root it if it's not already, and then flash that CM7.1 ROM. You won't regret it! I know I didn't!

 

[LBPHeretic]

The Sprint HTC Hero has a lot of life left in it, in my opinion. I agree with everyone else on rooting it and flashing a custom ROM.

There are lots of ROMs still being developed even to this day. I know there are a couple HTC Sense 3.0 and HTC Sense 3.5 ROMs, along with an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM.

 

[gabrieldaigle]

Thanks for the replies everyone. We'll see if I decide to go through with it.

Gabriel

 

[MahaloCat]

Thanks for the replies everyone. We'll see if I decide to go through with it.

Gabriel

Do it....seriously....you will ask yourself....why did I wait sooo long!

 

[KitsapAndroid]

Do it....seriously....you will ask yourself....why did I wait sooo long!

+1 for this.

 

[gabrieldaigle]

Will I lose any information on my phone (contacts, apps, etc.) if I root than flash my phone?

 

[KitsapAndroid]

Well, all of your conatacts should be backed up by google, so those are not gone. All of your apps are in your market history, so re-downloading them is no problem. As far as homescreens and such go, yeah, you'll have to set those back up. One easy way to bring the apps without re-downloading them all is to use Titanium Backup. Once you root the handset, then you can install Titanium and do a back up. Then once you flash the new ROM, you download Titanium first, and then restore your backed up apps from there.

 

[DonB]

As Kit mentioned, but remember when you sign in to Gmail, it will automatically download your apps back, unless you tell it not to, so you need to decide where you want to do it from Gmail or Titanium backup. first

 

[KitsapAndroid]

I forgot all about the fact that Google backs up your apps now as well. Good looking out DonB.

 

[gabrieldaigle]

OK guys. Actually giving it a shot this afternoon and I'm already having issues. Tried using both Fresh Kitchen 1.05 and Fresh Pre-Kitchen 0.2. My phone is connected to my computer and the computer acknowledges that. In Pre-Kitchen, it's coming back telling me it's not connected and that USB debugging needs to be on. Fresh Kitchen 1.05 is telling me that it can't work with the ROM that I currently have installed (Android 1.5?). I feel as if I'm already over my head. HELLLLLLLLLLP!!! Thanks.

Gabriel

 

[KitsapAndroid]

Just use z4root. I think it's in the market, but if it's not, you can get it on the web and then sideload it. The USB debugging option should be in your settings menu.

 

[MahaloCat]

Kits.....does z4Root work on 1.5?
I didn't now 1.5 was on ANYPHONES now....

 

[LBPHeretic]

Z4Root was dropped from the Android Market about a year ago. One can easily find it by doing a Google Search though.

It is probably the easiest way to root your handset. I have never tried it with Android 1.5 though.

 

[KitsapAndroid]

Yeah, forgot about the 1.5 thing. I don't know if it will work with it or not. And Mahalo, 1.5 is still on a truly stock, non-updated Sprint Hero. Of course, I think those are about as hard to find now as a white buffalo.

 

[gabrieldaigle]

Yeah, forgot about the 1.5 thing. I don't know if it will work with it or not. And Mahalo, 1.5 is still on a truly stock, non-updated Sprint Hero. Of course, I think those are about as hard to find now as a white buffalo.

I've got The Great White Buffalo. Hoping to work on this today.

Gabriel

 

[KitsapAndroid]

Gabriel, you should update the phone to 2.1 with the official Sprint RUU, then you can root 2.1 very easily with z4root, which can be found with a little help from google.

 

[MahaloCat]

+1 -

Update - then Google z4Root.apk

 

[gabrieldaigle]

Gabriel, you should update the phone to 2.1 with the official Sprint RUU, then you can root 2.1 very easily with z4root, which can be found with a little help from google.

Well, I now officially feel as if I'm over my head. Took your advice. Got the official Sprint RUU download. Plugged in my phone to the computer with the USB Jack. Computer acknowledges the phone. And everytime I've gotten an Error 170: USB Connection Error.

Rat Farts!!! I think I'm just going to wait till the contract's renewable in May. Hell, I've already lasted a year and a half with this phone.

Thanks to everyone for their help. The Great White Buffalo lives!

 

[MahaloCat]

You just need to download the drivers.

 

[KitsapAndroid]

If you still have it completely stock (which it sounds like you do), and you haven't formatted the SD card, then you will have the HTC prgram on your SD card. Just install that program, then plug in your handset and voila! Run that RUU and root it. If you don't have the program on the card, I believe (though it's been a long time for me now) that it is called HTC Connect. You should be able to find it on the internet pretty easily.

 

[gabrieldaigle]

Getting closer. Was up on the HTC Hero board and found this solution for Error [170]: USB Connection error:

SOLVED it,
right lets go
device manager> adb interface then on your android right click then update driver> browse my comp for driver then at the bottom select let me pick from a list of drivers on my pc select HTC hero
next run the RUU.

This worked!!! So step one (upgrading to 2.1) is now complete. Move on to the rest of it soon. Thanks for all of your help guys. The Great White Buffalo is now dead!

Gabriel

 

[gabrieldaigle]

I'm in!! Want to thank all of you for your help. After some due diligence, wiping my phone and starting from scratch, I now have Cyanogenmod 7 on my HTC Hero. Wow! It's keeping me real busy right now. It's like getting a new phone. And yes, I do wish I had done it earlier.

Gabriel