Root Custom roms?

jplamb · Dec 28, 2010

Hi,

I have been talking to a few people over the Christmas break and have been told that there are some good custom roms which would improve my htc hero. Is this a better idea than rooting? is it possible to over clock using a custom rom? are there any that you would reccomend?

Thank you

James

Selespeed · Dec 28, 2010

You'll need to root to be able to install a custom rom

jplamb · Dec 28, 2010

If i root my phone how wrong can it go? i have it for another year. could i put the official version of android back on easily?

what is the best rom to use if i do root?

sorry for all the questions, i dont want to destroy my phone

Xyro · Dec 28, 2010

The process of rooting your phone doesn't carry any risk. Of course, much like having administrator access to a computer, you have to be sensible about how you use root access. Worst case scenario you have to factory reset or reinstall the firmware.

When it comes to custom ROMs, the absolute worst case scenario is that you 'brick' your phone, so that you have to send it back to HTC for repairs. However, that would only happen if you flashed something meant for the wrong phone, flashed something meant for a Sprint CDMA Hero (a different phone that shares the same name), or you lose power whilst flashing a radio or SPL.

But we can tell you which files to flash and you won't need to flash a radio or an SPL. So really the worst that could happen if you make it 'bootloop', which is where the phone crashes whilst booting and starts over. But that's not really a big issue, and you can sort it within a few minutes.

Yes, you can always just run one of the RUU.exe files from HTC's website and install their firmware on the phone.

The best ROM depends on whether you want 2.1 (comes with HTC Sense) or 2.2 (quicker, but without HTC Sense).

Slug · Dec 28, 2010

jplamb said:
If i root my phone how wrong can it go?

Provided you can follow instructions it's a risk-free process.

could i put the official version of android back on easily?

Yes.

what is the best rom to use if i do root?

There's not really a single "best" ROM. Some people want to retain the SenseUI, while others prefer a stock feel to their Android. Some like the stability of 2.1 while others go with 2.2. Once rooted you can try the options for yourself and see which fits your own needs best.

sorry for all the questions

That's what AF is here for. I recommend that you have a read through the Rooting Guide and browse the All Things Root sub-forum for a feel for the different ROMs currently in vogue.

jplamb · Dec 28, 2010

Thank you very much for the replies. i have installed universal androot and run it. so the phone is now rooted.

I have had a look at the links in the post and followed a few with in them and the different custom roms are still confusing me.

I was looking to make my Hero as fast as it can with out killing the battery, just boosting the power when needed and Froyd has been mentioned for this. Would i be right or are there other ones that do the same? would like to run 2.2 if poss and be able to over clock the hero when needed.

If Froyd is a good one where would i go to get it and the instructions on installing it and the radio? i have googled a few things and it comes up with a few sites i would not trust.

Thank you again for all the help.

James

Xyro · Dec 28, 2010

Froyd is one of the best and most popular. It's not my personal choice, but the all of the main 2.2 roms are pretty similar nowadays. It can be overclocked if you want to do that (although 2.2 brings it's own speed improvements).

You can download it here. You will have to download 1.7.0 first and then the 1.7.1 and 1.7.2 updates as separate .zips. There are a few addons such as the gingerbread keyboard and themes that you can find on their site too.

You're running 2.1 at the moment, right? The second half of this post contains instructions on how to switch to a custom ROM.

I'm not so sure which radio your phone needs, as Orange Heroes can be a bit more picky than others.

jplamb · Dec 28, 2010

Thank you for the reply, think i know what i am doing.

would this be the latest radio patches that i would need? [ROM] Official HTC Hero RUU ROM + Radio Links - xda-developers

do i install the 1.7.0 version then once that has done it go through the same process to install 1.7.1 etc?

sorry if i sound a bit thick. i can do most things with computers but never done much in the way of updating phones
I am currently on 2.1 from Orange
Cheers

Xyro · Dec 28, 2010

Basically, once you've flashed the 1.7.0 file, just tell it to flash 1.7.1. and then 2. And then any other things like themes or whatever. There's no need to wipe or do anything in-between each one.

(Although if you're not doing these things all at once, and you booted in between, it's best to tell it to do a dalvik cache wipe first).

I know there's one radio out there that Orange branded phones don't like (it makes them ask for unlock codes constantly until you switch radios), but I'm not sure which one it is. That's why I'm hesitant to say.

Slug · Dec 28, 2010

My advice is don't touch the radio unless you have problems using it with the new ROM. Flash your ROM of choice and see how it runs first. If mobile network and/or wifi issues develop then 63.18.55.06PH_6.35.15.14 works fine here on an Orange-locked Hero running a 2.2 ROM.

jplamb · Dec 29, 2010

Hi, i have downloaded FroydVillain 1.7.0 and saved it to my computer. I am a bit confued as to the next step.

I have been looking at http://androidforums.com/hero-all-t...nstall-custom-rom-backup-more.html#post454660

it mentions the recovery version. is this the correct part of the page?

Download

ALWAYS check the md5sum to make sure the zip isn't corrupted.

Only flash recovery-RA-hero-v1.6.2.img if you have a 32A Sapphire with 6.35.x.x radio and 1.76.x SPL, recovery-RA-hero-v1.7.0.1.img will NOT boot! I'll create a new Sapphire version soon.

Latest :

recovery-RA-hero-v1.7.0.1.img - MD5Sum: 2c399ba2d780742c1eb8bb2710a31684

It is confusing me a bit with all the different things i need to install and run.

Thank you
James

Xyro · Dec 29, 2010

Yeah, that's the file you need. You can ignore pretty much everything in red; the red paragraph isn't applicable to Hero owners and well... I never bothered with the md5sum check. (Which checks to make sure your download isn't corrupt).

jplamb · Dec 29, 2010

Thank you,

Please can i confirm what i now need to do to make sure i am not missing anything.

1. Install instant root ( you get root access ) .....DONE

2. Copy the Amon Ra recovery image to the root of sdcard ( not in any folder )

3. Copy flashrec to the root of your sdcard

4. Install flashrec (Use a file explorer like astro)

5. Open flashrec. Then, Back up your recovery on first screen then in address bar put /sdcard/(ur amonra recoveryname with .img) and press flash. Typically it will be like this
/sdcard/recovery-RA-hero-v1.6.2.img

6. Go to the market. Download an app called 'Titanium Backup'. (Needs Root access). Install it. Click Backup/Restore. Click menu, Batch, Then select the option best for you. I select Backup all user apps. However you can select backup all user apps + data (but this may cause problems with your new ROM...but it works fine for me). Let the app do its thing.

Your done! Switch off the phone, switch it back on holding home key & power key

7. Once you are on the recovery screen menu there are a few options. Please do a nandroid backup before continuing. A nandroid backup simply takes a picture of your phone in its current state and if any problems occur you can restore your phone to how it was before. To do this click on Backup/Restore. Then click on Nand Backup. Wait for the process to finish. When it's finished reboot the phone and plug the phone into the computer and copy the nandroid folder to somewhere safe on your pc. Also copy the Titanium backup folder to your pc (this is the apps we backed up).

I recommend reformatting your memory card. To do this select SD card from phone menu, and click format. Or plug the phone into the PC and right click on the drive via my computer, and format it.

Now, put the custom rom (which should be a zip file) onto the root of the sd card. (I.e. Not in any folders). Do not rename the custom rom file or change the extension.

Then Switch off the phone, switch it back on holding home key & power key.

Always do a wipe before flashing your custom ROM. (A wipe will get rid of your data so please make a backup of your data using various apps on the market). In the Recovery Menu click WIPE, then Wipe data/factory reset, dalvik cache, SD:ext partition, battery stats & rotate settings etc.

8. Click on Flash Zip from sdcard and then it should show the Custom ROM. Click flash and wait for the ROM to install.

9. To enable Apps2SD (install apps to sd card) you must create a partition on the SD Card. To do this click on partition sdcard. We want 512MB as EX2 and the rest as FAT. After this has completed, go back to the partition SD menu and click on SD:ex2 to ext3.

A few parts that i am not 100% sure on before i start.

5. Open flashrec. Then, Back up your recovery on first screen then in address bar put /sdcard/(ur amonra recoveryname with .img) and press flash. Typically it will be like this
/sdcard/recovery-RA-hero-v1.6.2.img

Is this the "recovery-RA-hero-v1.7.0.1.img" file i have downloaded and copied to my SD?

Flashrec - the website says that current firmwares are patched. and i can not find where i download it from.

Titanium back up - have downloaded and installed but will wait to use it in order with the list.

Thank you again for your ancients. you must think i am stupid.

James

Xyro · Dec 29, 2010

Is your phone running 1.5 or 2.1 at the moment? If you're running 2.1 then I don't think flashrec works with that firmware.

If you download a free app from the market called 'ROM Manager' and hit the very first option 'Flash Clockwork Recovery', let it reboot and then load ROM manager again and click the very last option 'Flash Amon ra' it will do the job of flashrec on a 2.1 ROM.

jplamb · Dec 29, 2010

yer i am running 2.1

I have installed rom manager and selected Flash Clockwork Recovery. it has done this. it didnt ask to reboot or anything so i turned the phone off and back on again. it bootwed as normal and i have now opened rom manager again. is the option i want to select next "Flash alternate Recovery" "RA Recovery v1.7.0.1"?

Thank you

Xyro · Dec 29, 2010

Yeah that's the one (I was just listing the options from memory).

jplamb · Dec 29, 2010

I have backed everything up and am ready to install the custom rom. This is the part i am at at the min

I recommend reformatting your memory card. To do this select SD card from phone menu, and click format. Or plug the phone into the PC and right click on the drive via my computer, and format it.

Now, put the custom rom (which should be a zip file) onto the root of the sd card. (I.e. Not in any folders). Do not rename the custom rom file or change the extension.

Then Switch off the phone, switch it back on holding home key & power key.

I formatted the sd card and copied the zipped file on to the sd card and then tried to start the phone by pressing Home and On but it came up with a picture of the phone and an '!' icon in the top part of the picture. is this something to do with me formatting the card?

the phone has booted up properly after i turned it on normally

Thank you again for all the help

James

jplamb · Dec 29, 2010

Hi, I have got it running. i had to go through the steps with the rom manager again, it stores info on the SD so when i followed the instructions to format the sd card it removed the settings.

1 last question i think. how do i put the updates in? i have them downloaded on my pc.

Think the only thing not working properly is the camera, it keeps force closing. i am restarting the phone now but will see if the updates do anything.

A very big thank you for all of your help, could not have done it otherwise.

James

Xyro · Dec 29, 2010

Chances are the fixes sort the camera (although I haven't looked).

Put them on the sdcard like you did the original firmware, boot to recovery, do a nandroid backup (get in the habit of doing those before flashing) and then a dalvik cache wipe and a normal cache wipe. (Don't worry, it doesn't wipe anything you need/see, just temporary files).

Then flash 1.7.1 and then 1.7.2 and then reboot.

(The ! page meant that you hadn't flashed a recovery menu; so when you first told it to 'Flash Clockwork recovery', it didn't work. Not that that matters now

).

jplamb · Dec 29, 2010

Thank you very much for all of your help over the past few days. it has made things much easier and i would have prob given up with out the help.

if i decide to change the custom rom do i put it on the sd card, do a back up clear the cash and install it? (not planning on it but you never know)

Thank you

James

Xyro · Dec 29, 2010

jplamb said:
if i decide to change the custom rom do i put it on the sd card, do a back up clear the cash and install it? (not planning on it but you never know)

When you come to flash something new you'll either do a partial wipe: nand backup, wipe the two caches and then flash. Or a full wipe: the same, but do a factory reset as well as wiping the caches.

Usually updating to the new version of the same ROM, or changing theme or whatever, only requires a partial wipe. The only time you'd do a full wipe are when you're switching to a different ROM. But with all the free backup apps (MyBackup Root, Titanium Backup, SMS Backup & Restore) you're able to carry across most of your data to a new ROM even when doing a factory reset.

I bet you'll be flashing a new ROM when gingerbread comes out

(In fact I'm running gingerbread now, but it's very unstable).

Slug · Dec 29, 2010

Well done James!

Not just for the end result either, but for asking questions when you had doubts. A thread like this is a big help for future 'rooters' who may have similar questions.

msiu · Jan 4, 2011

hey guys,

im also new to this rooting thing but i want to get it done to my HTC Hero GSM.

Firmware- 2.1-update1
Kernel- 2.6.29-063c4d24 htc-kernel@and18-2 # 1
software- 3.32.405.2

I've been looking through many post about rooting and having a custom rom but im hopeless at stuff like it!

please could someone give me a step to step of what exactly i need to do. I would like to root my phone then put froyd villain 1.7.2 on it.

Sorry for all the questions...hope you can help

Slug · Jan 4, 2011

Welcome, msiu!

Please see posts # 13-19 in this thread.

msiu · Jan 4, 2011

thanks

Which is the best method will root my phone? i just want it done easily, also how do i check if it has actually been rooted after trying it?

thanks again!

Root Custom roms?

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