Advice needed

[cloudlea]

As an complete Android newbie, smart phone virgin and someone who is not familiar with the jargon I need advice on upgrading my phone.

I bought an unlocked Hero from Amazon uk.


Firmware version 1.5
Baseband version 63.18.55.06U_6.35.04.25
Kernal version 2.6.27-a5504199
Buildnumber 1.76.405.6
Software version 1.0.0.A6288


I have downloaded HTC sync version 2.0.8

Di I just go ahead and run that I'm scared of totally wreaking the phone as it is not on a contract. Also I have ordered a new sim for the phone , should I do an upgrade before or after it is in the phone.

I apologise in advance if all this has been covered but I have searched the forum and not found anything that I can understand.

Thanks in advance

 

[vjprakashbe]

Installing HTC sync will not harm your phone. It is just a windows application bundled with HTC drivers and Sync application which will establish communication between your Phone and windows PC. You need to be careful only when trying to flash any third party ROM or radios.

 

[quantumrand]

Your current ROM version (1.76.405.6) is out of date. You should download the update from HTC's Support Downloads page. It's pretty clear on the instructions. You pretty much just plug in your phone and run the exe. Keep in mind though that the update will erase all of your settings and data on the phone (the SD card won't be changed at all), basically making it the same as the first time you turned it on.

The current ROM version is 2.73.x.x (it will be 2.73.405.6 for you), and it greatly increases the speed of the phone; however, there should be a new ROM update coming soon (rumor is Dec 11th, but could be Q1 next year, who knows). That update will likely wipe your phone as well, so you could wait for that update if you wanted. Personally, I'd bear with wiping twice, just because the update to 2.73 offers such a smoother experience.

 

[cloudlea]

Thank you both for the advice but I'm afraid I might need even more help. I tried to run HTC sync it had a hiccup part way through but then seemed to install OK. However when I plugged my phone in there was no sign of it.

I then panicked and uninstalled HTC sync when I plug my phone in it still is not seen. When I checked the SD card the neither the phone or the computer can see it.

Can I recover from all this?

 

[cloudlea]

PS my computer is on Win 7

 

[Slug]

When I checked the SD card the neither the phone or the computer can see it.

Can I recover from all this?

Is the microSD card recognised by the handset in normal use i.e. when not connected to the PC?

 

[MartinS]

Don't forget to pull down the notifications bar on the phone screen and press HTC Sync. The Hero will then look for HTC Sync on your computer.

Otherwise you can select "mount" from the notifications and this let's you explore the SD card as if it was a drive on you laptop.

 

[cloudlea]

Thanks again for all you patience and advice. I have now managed to find the SD card on the PC. I have reinstalled HTC sync

However when I do this

Don't forget to pull down the notifications bar on the phone screen and press HTC Sync. The Hero will then look for HTC Sync on your computer.

The phone gives a message saying it cannot find HTC sync on my PC even though HTC sync is there and open and I have got USB connected on the Phone.

I assume I need the phone to be recognised by HTC sync to run the ROM upgrade?

 

[Slug]

The phone gives a message saying it cannot find HTC sync on my PC even though HTC sync is there and open and I have got USB connected on the Phone.

Is USB Debugging enabled in Settings-Applications-Development?

I assume I need the phone to be recognised by HTC sync to run the ROM upgrade?

Only the correctly-loaded device drivers are required, not the program itself. However a working HTC Sync is a sure-fire way to tell that the drivers are loading correctly.

 

[cloudlea]

Is USB Debugging enabled in Settings-Applications-Development?

Only the correctly-loaded device drivers are required, not the program itself. However a working HTC Sync is a sure-fire way to tell that the drivers are loading correctly.

USB bugging is enabled phone still not connecting

 

[Slug]

USB bugging is enabled phone still not connecting

With the handset connected via USB, open Windows' Device Manager and check that there's an entry for Android Devices.

 

[Jaffa]

I have found HTC Sync to be uber flakey with win7, a few things for syncing

1) Ensure your SD card is unmounted

2) If your hero wont see HTC Sync on your PC after selecting sync, try rebooting the phone.

3) If it still wont see it reboot the PC

4) If it still wont see it, uninstall Win7 and try linux

 

[cloudlea]

I have found HTC Sync to be uber flakey with win7, a few things for syncing

1) Ensure your SD card is unmounted

2) If your hero wont see HTC Sync on your PC after selecting sync, try rebooting the phone.

3) If it still wont see it reboot the PC

4) If it still wont see it, uninstall Win7 and try linux

Have just tried all that to no avail and tried

"With the handset connected via USB, open Windows' Device Manager and check that there's an entry for Android Devices."


Would I be better using a Windows XP machine until this one learns to talk to Win 7 without problems?/

 

[Slug]

Would I be better using a Windows XP machine until this one learns to talk to Win 7 without problems?/

That's up to yourself. Personally I've had no problems with Windows 7 once I installed the correct (Vista x64) device drivers for the Hero. HTC Sync is actually more reliable than on my previous XP Pro system.